ARLINGTON, Texas – Second-year safety Brian Branch missed Detroit's Week 4 win over Seattle with an illness. The first three weeks of the season before that absence Branch was terrific, leading the NFL in passes defended and recording an interception.
Branch made a huge impact in Detroit's 47-9 win over Dallas Sunday in his return to the field. He picked up interceptions No. 2 and No. 3 on the season and also forced a fumble to go with six tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.
"He means a ton to us," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Branch after the game. "What you see is what you get. He is a high production player. He's the ultimate football player. He's a football player.
"He gets it and sees it. And the safety position in our defense is perfect for him. It allows him to roam, and he has some freedom. It's structured, but he's got some freedom to move a little bit and play ball. Man, you can just see. The sky is the limit for him."
Branch is just the second player in franchise history to record two interceptions and a forced fumble in a single game, joining cornerback Dré Bly on the list.
"He's a ball player and a ball hawk," linebacker Alex Anzalone said of Branch. "He makes a lot of plays and it's fun to be a part of and be on the field with him."
Anzalone said Branch's production since moving to safety this year after playing nickel cornerback last year doesn't surprise anyone.
"If he keeps it up, he's having an All-Pro season in my opinion," Anzalone said. "I'm excited for him to keep growing as a safety and keep getting better in different situations and the sky is the limit for him."
BIG PLAY GOFF
Detroit took a 17-3 lead early in the second quarter on a Jared Goff to Sam LaPorta 52-yard completion on a little razzle-dazzle from offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Goff handed off to David Montgomery who pitched it to Amon-Ra St. Brown coming around on a reverse, who then pitched it back to Goff, who found a streaking LaPorta down the right sideline for a 52-yard touchdown.
It's the third 50-plus-yard touchdown pass for Goff already this season. The only quarterbacks in team history to have three 50-plus yard touchdown passes within the first five games of a season are Goff, Greg Landry (1971) and Earl Morrall (1963).
When the explosive play is a consistent element to this offense, to go along with the rushing attack and the short and intermediate passing game, this offense is one of the hardest to contain in the NFL.
BATES PERFORMANCE
There was a little bit of unknown with kicker Jake Bates to begin the year. He was touted as the big-leg kicker from the USFL but had little experience in the pressure cooker that is the NFL.
Bates was 4-for-4 kicking field goals against the Cowboys Sunday, hitting from 40, 48, 33 and 33 yards. He was also a perfect 5-for-5 on extra point tries.
So far through five games, Bates is now 9-for-9 kicking field goals and 16-for-17 on extra points. He's proving to be quite the acquisition for Brad Holmes and the Lions this offseason.
EXTRA POINT
It was really good to see wide receivers Tim Patrick (three receptions for 68 yards) and Kalif Raymond (four for 73) step up and have big games Sunday. Patrick has had a couple good games in a row now. This was the first breakout for Raymond this season. When the No. 3 and No. 4 receivers in this offense can step up and produce it's huge. It just gives Goff more options and defenses more things to worry about moving forward.
