Lions safety Brian Branch wins NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6

The Detroit Lions dominated the Dallas Cowboys all-around in Week 6, and the 47-9 score reflected it perfectly. Safety Brian Branch had a career day as part of the dominant defensive effort, with two interceptions, a forced fumble, six total tackles and one quarterback hit.

Branch has been acknowledged for his performance against the Cowboys, with Wednesday's announcement he has won NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 6.

"It wasn't all about offense in the Lions' lopsided 47-9 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Branch was stellar to the tune of two interceptions, a forced fumble and six tackles.
-Grant Gordon, NFL.com

In four games this season (he missed Week 4 due to an illness), Branch has 28 tackles, three interceptions, nine pass breakups, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He is Pro Football Focus' sixth-highest graded safety this year, one spot behind teammate Kerby Joseph as the Lions have one of the top safety tandems in the league.

Brian Branch gets big praise from running mate Kerby Joseph

Joseph was on "The St. Brown Bros." podcast with Lions' wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother Equanimeous this week.

"I feel like I be doing some phenomenal stuff, but the stuff he do is just miraculous," Joseph said. "I don’t know how he being doing out there in the field. Miraculous, bro. It just be crazy. We be in practice, and I took the down one time and he was back playing the post. I think it was like a deep over or whatever, but man he’s jumping through the ball. I’m trying to catch it and he’s jumping through to make the play. I’m like, ‘How are you over here."

This is Branch's first career Player of the Week award, and he is the third Lions' player win an NFC Player of the Week award already this season, joining punter Jack Fox (Week 3) and quarterback Jared Goff (Week 4). Aidan Hutchinson also won NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.