Detroit Lions’ Branch returns, Bates kick wins 20-17
Brian Branch returned from a 10-month rehabilitation of a torn Achilles and made an immediate impact in his 2026 debut, helping the Detroit Lions to a 20-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 25, 2026. Branch played roughly two-thirds of Detroit’s defensive snaps and recorded a critical fourth-quarter interception of Packers quarterback Jordan Love when he went up over wide receiver Christian Watson. The pickup helped preserve a one-score lead in the final minutes and electrified the Ford Field crowd. The Lions improved to 4-2 with the win, according to the team report published Oct. 25.
Coaches managed Branch’s return with a pitch count after he rejoined the scout team about three weeks earlier, and the club said the measured approach aimed to limit his workload while easing him back into game action. Branch also contributed with several run-game tackles during the contest, showing the physicality he displayed before the injury. Head coach Dan Campbell praised the difficulty of the rehabilitation process and noted Branch is not fully back to peak form but will improve with additional reps.
Detroit’s secondary played a key role in the win, curbing Green Bay’s big-play passing attack that had been among the league leaders entering the game. The Packers arrived ranked third in completions of 20-plus yards (24), first in 40-plus-yard completions (8) and first in 50-plus-yard completions (3), yet Detroit limited explosive plays and conceded six completions of 20 or more yards, five of which occurred in the first half. The Lions did this without being flagged for interference, illegal contact or holding, and defensive replacements such as Khalil Dorsey stepped in after Ennis Rakestraw Jr. exited with an ankle injury.
On offense, Amon-Ra St. Brown posted a dominant performance, catching nine of the 11 passes Jared Goff targeted at him for 153 yards, his 26th career 100-yard game and the fourth time he reached 100 yards before halftime. Jameson Williams continued his recent surge with two touchdown catches for a second consecutive game, marking the first time in his career he has recorded back-to-back contests with two receiving touchdowns. Campbell credited both players for making pivotal plays that helped sustain drives and flip field position in critical moments.
Special teams proved decisive as kicker Jake Bates connected on field goals of 40 and 22 yards and both extra points, including a 22-yard attempt as time expired to seal the victory. Bates remains perfect on the season at 10-for-10 on field goals and 22-for-22 on extra points and is now 7-of-7 on go-ahead or game-tying kicks in the final two minutes or overtime over his career. Green Bay missed a 26-yard attempt earlier and had a 35-yarder partially blocked by Lions edge rusher DJ Wonnum on the final possession, plays that proved costly in the three-point loss.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Branch’s return provides a timely boost to a secondary that has risen to the occasion the past two weeks, and his interception underscored why the Lions limited his snaps as he regains game shape. Detroit’s defensive backs executed a disciplined game plan, avoiding penalties while containing Green Bay’s deep threats, and the offense received needed reliability from St. Brown and a confidence-building performance from Williams. Jake Bates continued his streak of clutch kicking, which has directly influenced late-game outcomes this season, and the combination of a tightening secondary and dependable special teams gives Detroit a clearer path to maintain momentum as the season progresses.