By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions have been on fire this season, and their Monday Night Football showdown against the Baltimore Ravens only fueled the hype. On September 22, the Lions stunned the league with a 38-30 victory, proving they’re not just a flash in the pan but serious contenders in 2025.
But while the roar of the win echoed through Detroit, one Lion found himself on the wrong end of an NFL fine that stirred just as many headlines as the win itself.
The Win That Made a Statement
Heading into Monday night, the odds didn’t favor Detroit. Most NFL pundits pegged the Ravens as the stronger squad, especially with Lamar Jackson in charge of Baltimore’s offense. Yet, the Lions—under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn—showed poise, grit, and enough firepower to leave M&T Bank Stadium with the W.
The victory boosted confidence across the fan base, but as is often the case in the NFL, one storyline quickly gave way to another.
Brian Branch Gets Hit With an NFL Fine
On Saturday, September 27, the NFL handed down fines for the previous week’s games, and Lions safety Brian Branch landed on the list. His penalty? $11,598 for “unnecessary roughness” due to a low block.
Here’s the kicker: even ESPN’s own Football Rules Analyst, Russell Yurk, thought it was a questionable call. On the broadcast, Yurk noted Branch didn’t appear to intentionally block anyone—he just fell, and another player tripped over him. Tough break, especially after such a statement win.
The money, however, won’t disappear into thin air. The NFL directs these fines to the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation, which focus on supporting retired players, athlete safety, and youth football programs. So while Branch may feel hard done by, at least the fine funds a good cause.
All Eyes Now on the Browns
With the Ravens game behind them, the Lions now shift focus to Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns, who boast the NFL’s top-ranked defense. According to ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder, the Browns could clamp down on Detroit’s star running backs, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, holding them to under 4.0 yards per carry.
Still, the national outlook remains positive. Every ESPN analyst picked Detroit to take the win in Week 4—proof that the Lions are no longer the underdog, but the team to beat.
Final Thoughts
The Lions’ win over Baltimore showed their potential as a legit Super Bowl contender. But Brian Branch’s fine is a reminder that in the NFL, victories sometimes come with strings attached. Whether fair or not, it won’t stop Detroit from charging into their biggest test yet against the Browns.
The question now: can the Lions keep roaring against the league’s best defense?