Patrick Mahomes Says Chiefs 'Not Afraid' of Anybody After Branch, JuJu, Lions Fight

Despite the brouhaha that erupted between Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after Kansas City's 30-17 win on Sunday Night Football, Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is proud of the attitude his team brought to the game.

"That's a physical team, and they have a mentality that they come in to play with, and we're going to match that mentality," Mahomes said after the win, per ESPN. "We're not afraid to go up against anybody. That's the mentality Coach [Andy] Reid brings every single day, and we're going to match the intensity of whoever steps on that field."

At the end of Sunday night's game, Mahomes attempted to shake Branch's hand, but the safety brushed him off. Smith-Schuster approached Branch and had a few words for him before being struck in the head, sending him to the ground. The altercation led to a scuffle between the two teams before both sides separated, and Smith-Schuster was seen holding a towel over his nose as he made his way back to the locker room.

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Branch admitted fault for his actions after the game, though he indicated that he wasn't solely to blame for tensions boiling over.

"It was a childish thing, but I'm tired of people doing stuff in between the play and refs don't catch it," Branch said. "They be trying to bully me out there. I should have never did it. It was childish."

Branch went on to add that he was blocked in the back by Smith-Schuster toward the end of the game, but the referees didn't call a penalty.

"I could've got hurt off of that play," he said. "I still shouldn't have done that."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the NFL is reviewing the incident, and a suspension for those involved is "certainly possible." Branch is one of Detroit's most important defensive players, but it remains to be seen if he will be available for the team's primetime matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football in Week 7.