DETROIT — Brian Branch became an instant meme after his ejection during the Detroit Lions’ Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, flipping off the Lambeau Field crowd as he made his way off the field.
The viral moment didn’t fade with the game. Days after the Lions’ win, Branch’s teammate in the secondary, Kerby Joseph, turned the image into a statement.
Joseph had shirts printed featuring the infamous gesture and handed them out in the Lions’ locker room, where the team embraced the moment with humor.
Fast forward to Thursday night at Ford Field, and the rivalry between the Lions and Packers seemed as heated as ever. During pregame warmups for their prime-time rematch, Joseph and several Lions defenders were spotted wearing the shirts, showcasing Branch’s now-iconic defiance in bold fashion.
Branch’s ejection in Week 9 followed a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton. While the play may have earned him a swift exit, his reaction to the call solidified his place in Detroit sports lore, creating an image that now symbolizes the Lions’ gritty identity.
The Lions (11-1) are looking to remain undefeated in the NFC North as they take on the Packers (9-3) Thursday night at Ford Field. This pivotal matchup carries significant weight in the NFC North title race and could influence both teams’ playoff seeding as the postseason draws closer.
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