The Detroit Lions didn’t exactly save their season at Ford Field on the December 4 edition of “Thursday Night Football” against the Dallas Cowboys, but the 44-30 victory made a playoff appearance vastly more probable.
That win didn’t come without a cost, however, as safety Brian Branch exited the game in the final quarter with an ankle injury. He limped off the field of play following a crucial defensive stop in the red zone, and a medical cart transported him back to the locker room.
Branch did not return to the action and left the stadium on crutches and in a walking boot. Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters he had no official update, but the optics were not great for one of the Lions’ best defensive starters.
Lions Secondary Has Been Banged Up All Season
GettyDetroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph.
The silver lining is that Detroit has 10 days until its next game. The unfortunate aspect is that the contest will come on the road against the Los Angeles Rams (9-3), who are currently tied for the best record in the NFC.
The Lions are already thin in the secondary, as cornerback Terrion Arnold is on injured reserve and safety Kerby Joseph remains sidelined with a knee injury. Joseph has a chance to get back on the field by December 14, which would prove a considerable boost to the secondary regardless of Branch’s status.
Branch was questionable coming into Week 14 against Dallas, though it was a shoulder injury that was impacting his status. Branch was able to overcome that, but the ankle adds a new wrinkle to his health issues moving forward.
The Rams offense features both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, along with MVP candidate Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Detroit was able to outpace the Cowboys offense but still surrendered 30 points to a similarly talented trio.
If Branch is unable to go, the Lions will remain significantly hampered in the secondary, whether Joseph is able to return to action or not.
Lions Defense Produced 5 Sacks, 3 Turnovers in Victory Over Cowboys
GettyDefensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad (left) and head coach Dan Campbell (right) of the Detroit Lions.
Even if both Branch and Joseph take the field 10 days from now, Detroit is going to have to rely on its defensive front to create pressure to take some of the burden off of a secondary that will be rusty and/or hampered in L.A.
Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad continued his career campaign with three sacks of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on Thursday night. Muhammad has now tallied nine sacks this season, which is three more than his best year that came with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021.
The Lions finished the evening with five total sacks and 11 quarterback hits, which was critical to their ability to hold off a Cowboys offense that helped lead Dallas to three consecutive wins heading into Week 14.
“Proud of the guys,” Campbell said during the postgame press conference. “They rallied, man. They showed up.”
Detroit also finished the game with three forced turnovers, which will be another important aspect of the defense as it goes to battle down several key pieces over the final stretch of the season.
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