Intense Brawl Erupts Post-Game: Chiefs vs Lions Clash Turns Violent

Kansas City Chiefs’ win over Detroit Lions ended in anarchy on Sunday with a huge brawl between the two sets of players that left Juju Smith-Schuster with a bleeding nose.

The melee was ignited by Lions defender Brian Branch, who took a swing at Smith-Schuster following the game’s conclusion. Notably, Branch had previously disregarded Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who had extended a hand for a post-game handshake. Branch is likely to face disciplinary measures from the NFL for his role in the incident.

After being knocked to the ground, Smith-Schuster quickly rose and chased down Branch, pulling him to the turf. This action triggered a rush of players from both teams to join the fray.

Amid the chaos, Smith-Schuster was seen with blood dripping from his nose as he was led away from the skirmish. He clutched a towel to his face while making his way to the locker room shortly thereafter.

When interviewed on the field after tensions had subsided, Mahomes played down the significance of the altercation.

‘I mean, we play the game in between the whistles,’ Mahomes said, looking visibly unimpressed. ‘They can do all the extracurricular stuff they want to do. We will play the game in between the whistles.’

Mahomes found himself at the heart of the brawl as players from both sides surrounded Branch and Smith-Schuster, with the Chiefs man desperately trying to hold his players back from getting involved. 

Branch didn’t get any help from his Lions head coach, either. Speaking moments after the game, Dan Campbell was quizzed about the incident and said: ‘I love Brian Branch but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not gonna be accepted here.

‘It’s not what we do and it’s not what we are about. I apologized to coach Reid and the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster. That’s not what we do. He knows it, our team knows it.’

Speaking in the locker room, Smith-Schuster had no ill-feeling towards Branch, who has a history of seeing red.

‘I know he’s a better player than that, a better person,’ the Chiefs man told reporters. ‘He’ll learn from his mistakes.’

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said that there was ‘pretty good damage’ on Smith-Schuster’s nose. 

The Chiefs play AFC West rivals Las Vegas Raiders back at Arrowhead next Sunday afternoon. Smith-Schuster’s status will become clear over the coming days but there is a reinforcement coming in that wide reciever position, with Rashee Rice’s six-game suspension now over.

The Chiefs beat the Lions 30-17 on the night at Arrowhead and there were suggestions late on Sunday night that Mahomes may have provoked Branch earlier in the game after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter.

Replay show Mahomes spun around and turned back in the direction of Branch after reaching the end zone, but it wasn’t clear if he was specifically targeting the Lions defensive back.

Smith-Schuster, however, suggested Branch’s anger came from being blocked by the wide receiver throughout the game.

‘I played between the whistles, and after the game, he took advantage of what he did,’ he said. ‘He’s a great player, right? He’s huge for the team. I think after the game, I expect to shake his hand and say, “Good game” and move Pat’s way. But he threw a punch.

‘We came out here. We did our job. We won. And that’s all that matters.’ 

The Chiefs are now 3-3 for the season, while the Lions drop to 4-2.