The Detroit Lions' offseason decision to move Brian Branch to safety was initially easy to wonder about, if not question. He's still been a versatile piece in the secondary this season though, and his impact on Kerby Joseph has been undeniable as the two have formed arguably the top safety tandem in the league.
With Week 13 not quite complete, Joseph and Branch are both top-10 in the league in interceptions and pass breakups, with top-five Pro Football Focus grades among safeties. The Lions' defense has been very good despite a litany of injuries, with Joseph and Branch playing key roles in the success.
Entering Thanksgiving week, Douglas Clawson of CBS Sports took a deeper look at Joseph and Branch and added some broader historical context to what they're doing this season.
Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are in some very rare air historically
Here are some historical notes Clawson brought to light (before the Thanksgiving Day game against the Bears):
"Joseph is the only player since 2000 with 200+ tackles and 15+ interceptions through 40 career starts."
"Branch is the only player in the last 20 seasons with 125+ tackles and 25+ passes defended through 25 career games."
In 2011, at the start of the Seattle Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" era, safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor became the first (and to this point only, per Clawson) safety duo in the Super Bowl era under 25 years old to earn a Pro Bowl selection. Joseph and Branch are easily on their way to becoming the second.
A rough second half for them and the Lions' defense against the Bears on Thanksgiving Day adjusted the numbers negatively, but Joseph and Branch are still stifling opposing aerial attacks with 35.9 and 55.6 passer ratings allowed in their coverage this year respectively (according to Pro Football Reference). They each allowed their first touchdown this season in coverage against the Bears (according to PFF).
That last development erased some of what Clawson noted going into the game, but this note regarding Joseph and Branch's combined 11 interceptions in the first 11 games of a season at their ages still stands as notable.
"It's the most interceptions by a duo (11) under age 25 through 11 games since Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy hit that mark in 1998 for the Patriots."
Joseph and Branch of course have to finish this season as strong as they've started it to pay off Clawson's declaration (in the title of his piece) that they are the best safety duo in the NFL since Thomas and Chancellor. But they're getting noticed widely as the Lions' defense has been one of the best in the league this season.