Chiefs fans will like to see Brian Branch's fate after post-SNF cheap shot
The Kansas City Chiefs managed to take down a Detroit Lions team that came into their Sunday Night Week 6 duel with plenty of momentum, but Brian Branch and his defense eventually fell flat on the field before humiliating themselves off the field.
Frustrated with what he believes to be poor refereeing missing multiple instances of the Chiefs going out of their way to knock him around, Branch started a postgame brawl that ended with JuJu Smith-Schuster getting decked in the face and needing some cloth up his nose in the immediate aftermath.
Fans who were hoping for the NFL to come down with a very punitive sentence will be relieved to hear that Branch has been suspended one game without pay by the league for his actions after the game. Even with how apologetic everyone was when things simmered down, that doesn't change the fact that he was clearly in the wrong here.
Lions DB Brian Branch suspended one game after Chiefs punch
To give Branch some credit, he did acknowledge that he was in the wrong for reacting the way he did in the locker room. Lions head coach Dan Campbell called the action "unacceptable" and said that playing like that is not what the Lions try to represent.
Branch, and the Lions secondary as a whole, did noy have a game to write home about against Mahomes and this receiver room in their final performance before the return of Rashee Rice. With Mahomes accounting for four touchdowns, three of which came through the air, it became clear that this secondary was ill-prepared for Kansas City.
Branch is appealing his suspension, but a denial of said appeal would lead to him missing a Monday Night Football duel against the red-hot Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This Bucs passing game is not the best one to be down a possible All-Pro defensive back.
Branch has been swiftly dealt with after some childish attempts to get back at Smith-Schuster. Not only did Kansas City pick up the much-needed home win, but they did so while indirectly leading to one of Detroit's key players sabotaging his availability for Week 7.
BREAKING: Colts Set Sights on Trade Block as Playoff Push Heats Up
The Indianapolis Colts are built to win now — and GM Chris Ballard could look to add veteran help before the deadline.
After a gritty win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6, the Indianapolis Colts showed they can win in every fashion. As this team continues to run through the NFL, a deep run in the playoffs is very much on the table.
With Chris Ballard staring down a Lombardi, he might be looking to attack the trade block in an attempt to patch up this squad, add depth, and get this team ready for January. Ballard has always valued development and draft capital, but this team is too good not to take a swing at a legit game-changer.
Let’s take a look at a few trade candidates that could give this team the depth they need. Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker listed several NFL players who could be on the trade block and suggested the Colts as a possible fit for five of them.
Starting with my favorite, veteran linebacker Jordyn Brooks is sitting on a 1–5 Miami Dolphins team. Even with an unimpressive defense, Brooks still leads the league in tackles through Week 6.
Brooks has only missed two tackle attempts this season. He’s second in sacks among linebackers, and 13th in pass-rush grade among linebackers with a 76.2.
With Brooks in the final year of his two-year deal and Indianapolis’ 35.1 overall PFF grade at linebacker being the lowest in the league, a trade for a solid backer makes perfect sense.
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Locker also floated a few other veteran linebackers as potential fits for Indianapolis, including 36-year-old Demario Davis and the resurging Jamal Adams — both proven leaders who could add stability to the middle of the defense.
Next, Locker suggests possible trades for veteran tight ends Mark Andrews and David Njoku. But with this current Colts offensive firepower and their more pressing defensive needs, it’s hard to see Ballard targeting a skill position.
There are also a couple of players I like that Locker listed on the trade block but didn’t necessarily connect to Indianapolis. One of those players comes from the same struggling Dolphins team that’s likely to be listening to offers.
I like the idea of Ballard going after cornerback Rasul Douglas, who’s currently averaging his best career PFF grade with an 82.2 on the 2025 season.
Douglas holds a 77.9 PFF coverage grade with three pass breakups across 161 coverage snaps, making him a prime candidate for a Colts secondary that ranks 17th in coverage grade through six weeks.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Colts find themselves in a rare position — built to win now, but still improving every week. Ballard has never been one to make splashy trades, but this roster might be good enough to warrant one.
The window is open — and the AFC is there for the taking. If Indianapolis wants to make a serious playoff push, the time to add talent is now.
