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Editor’s note: This is the sixth installment of a season-long series on a breakout star from the past week of NFL action. The Week 6 winner: Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch
After the Lions’ 47-9 thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys, Alex Anzalone cracked a smile — the biggest of his postgame press conference.
The Detroit linebacker had just been asked about teammate Brian Branch, a rising second-year safety who seemed to be everywhere in the blowout victory.
“He’s a ball player and a ball hawk,” Anzalone said.
Elite playmaking made Branch the defensive star for the Lions on Sunday, with two interceptions, a forced fumble and six tackles (five solo) in the win. He became just the second player in franchise history with two picks and a forced fumble in a single game, joining Dre’ Bly.
In four games this season, Branch has three interceptions, which matches his 15-game total as a rookie in 2023. The former Alabama star is pacing better than his rookie year in several other categories, too — in pass breakups, combined tackles, solo tackles, tackles for loss, quarterback hits, completion rate allowed, yards allowed, air yards allowed, yards allowed per reception and passer rating allowed when targeted, according to Pro Football Reference.
The 45th pick in last year’s draft, Branch has made a seamless transition to safety after playing primarily nickel as a rookie. Among safeties this season, he ranks third in interceptions (3), is tied for first in forced incompletions (5) and third in forced incompletion rate (29%), according to Pro Football Focus.
Branch’s continued ascension with the Lions becomes all the more paramount in the wake of Aidan Hutchinson’s leg injury, which is expected to sideline the superstar edge rusher up to six months.
Defensively, Detroit’s Super Bowl hopes will be leaning more than ever on its secondary, led in part by Branch.
Before missing the Lions’ Week 4 game against the Seattle Seahawks, the team’s last contest before Sunday…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/lions-db-brian-branch-showed-skys-the-limit-upside-rout-cowboys
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Publish date : 2024-10-15 18:48:48
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