The Detroit Lions lost a large portion of their defense in the middle of their massive NFC North clash against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

In the second quarter, star safety Brian Branch was marked by unnecessary harshness after hitting Packers receiver Bo Melton high after Melton dropped a pass. After a few moments, the replay center rang and ejected Branch from the game.

Branch was understandably upset with the decision and also received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty upon leaving the field.

The Lions will have to find something the rest of the way without their best player healthy on defense. Throughout his young career, Branch has been a do-it-all Swiss Army Knife on defense.

The Lions defense had an excellent first half against an explosive Packers offense, both before and after Branch left the game. They held the Packers to just three points the entire half while creating some big plays. The biggest play of the group came late in the half when defensive back Kerby Joseph intercepted a screen pass and ran it back for a score.

That big play by the Lions defense gave them a 17-3 lead going into the half in a game that could really separate them from the rest of the NFC North. The Packers would suffer their third loss if this result stands, and the Lions would go head-to-head. tiebreakers with both the Packers and the Minnesota Vikings with a game against each in the books.

Branch is unlikely to face further discipline from the league for this incident. As long as that’s true, he’ll be back on the field and flying for the Lions defense next Sunday against the Houston Texans.