Detroit Lions’ Brian Branch makes it clear why he started brawl with Chiefs on Sunday night

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch made it pretty clear after Sunday Night Football why he was frustrated and started a brawl with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Branch was caught on video refusing to shake hands with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after Detroit’s 30-17 loss at Arrowhead Stadium.

When Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster confronted him about it, Branch struck him in the helmet, causing several players from both teams to jump into the action.

Branch was asked about what happened after the game.

“I did a little childish thing, but I’m tired of people doing stuff in between the play and refs don’t catch it,” Branch said. “Like, they be trying to bully me out there, and I don’t -- I should have never did it. It was childish.”

• What Dan Campbell said about Lions player starting brawl with Chiefs
• What Patrick Mahomes said about Lions after brawl

Mahomes was asked about what happened during his postgame interview with the Sunday Night Football crew.

“We play the game in between the whistles,” Mahomes said. “They can do all the extra-curricular stuff they want to do, but we play the game in between the whistles.”

Lions coach Dan Campbell also talked about the fight during his postgame press conference.

“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not going to be accepted here,” Campbell said. “It’s not what we do. It’s not what we’re about. I apologize to Coach (Andy) Reid and the Chiefs and (JuJu Smith-Schuster). That’s not OK. That’s not what we do here and it’s not going to be OK. He’s knows it. Our team knows it. So that’s not what we do.”

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It’s unclear what, if anything, was said by Mahomes, Branch, or Smith-Schuster.

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It wouldn’t be a surprise if Branch faces discipline from the league. With the Lions in the heart of their most difficult stretch and already without four of their top six cornerbacks, it would be awful timing to lose Branch from their secondary.