The Detroit Lions battled fiercely against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, October 12, in a matchup both teams desperately wanted to win. But, as always, there could only be one victor (unless you’re the Packers and Cowboys, of course), and that ended up being the Chiefs, who secured a 30-17 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Lions-Chiefs game was packed with intense moments. The most talked-about incident came when Brian Branch brushed off Patrick Mahomes and took a swing at Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after the game. The NFL handed Branch a one-game suspension for his actions, but he wasn’t the only Detroit player to face league discipline stemming from that matchup.
Each week, the NFL reviews player conduct from prior games and hands out fines accordingly. As stated on the league’s website, the system is meant “to protect players from unnecessary risk and maintain competitive balance and game integrity.” The weekly list of penalized players is published every Saturday afternoon, and two Lions appeared on this week’s update.
Detroit defenders Alex Anzalone and Tyler Lacy were both fined for their conduct against Kansas City. Anzalone was docked $12,172 for “unnecessary roughness” and “striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing,” while Lacy received a $5,722 fine for the same infraction.
The penalties were detailed in the NFL’s Week 6 report. The league’s biggest fines went to Tennessee’s L’Jarius Sneed, who was hit with a $23,186 penalty for “unnecessary roughness” involving “use of helmet,” and Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen for delivering a “blow to the head/neck” of the Browns’ quarterback.
According to the league, all fine money is directed to the Professional Athletes Foundation to “support former players in need,” as well as to the NFL Foundation to promote “health, safety, and wellness” for athletes at every level, including youth football and local communities that sustain the sport.
More Controversy in Lions-Chiefs Showdown
The Detroit-Kansas City contest was filled with confusing officiating moments. Early in the game, Lions quarterback Jared Goff appeared to throw a touchdown pass on a trick play, but the score was wiped out after officials ruled that the offense had failed to execute the play correctly. As a result, the NFL overturned the touchdown.
Head coach Dan Campbell addressed the bizarre call during his October 15 appearance on 97.1 FM The Ticket. Campbell said he was told the league office in New York had advised the on-field crew to overturn the score. Yet, referee Craig Wrolstad told reporters postgame that no such call ever came from New York regarding the reversal. So, the truth remains unclear.
We may never know what really transpired, but one thing’s certain — the Detroit Lions remain one of this year’s most resilient teams. Here’s hoping they keep the momentum rolling all the way into the NFL postseason.
