Notes: 2 Lions defenders make NFL’s all-underrated team

Two Detroit Lions defenders made SB Nation’s “All-Underrated team.”

Detroit Lions ’ Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are one of the top safety tandems in the league, but their names may not be recognized the way they should be.

At least, that’s what SB Nation’s Dog Farrar thinks, according to his list of the top eight underrated defensive players through the 2024 season.

Farrar explains that while the powerful offense is getting national attention—especially as the Lions make history for having more touchdowns (27) than incompletions (24) over the past six games—the defense is something special, too.

Between Branch and Joseph alone, the duo has 10 interceptions, 19 passes defended, and 83 total tackles.

“While Joseph is more the deep-third coverage maven and Branch is the guy who can get it done from just about everywhere, neither of them is tied to one specific role. And they’ve helped allow Glenn to play the more aggressive coverages he’d prefer. In man coverage this season, Detroit has allowed 67 completions on a league-high 136 attempts for 867 yards, four touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 64.2. Overall, Branch has allowed an opponent passer rating of 37.5, and Branch has allowed an opponent passer rating of 31.6,” Farrar writes.

Bonus — FOX 2’s Dan Miller sat down with Joseph to chat about the season so far, the squad’s recent night out at the Detroit Pistons game, and the secret to his productive season.

And on to the rest of your notes.

• Over on “The Herd,” Colin Cowherd explains how Green Bay was outmatched by the mighty Lions, and asks Tom Brady (who called the game) if there was a time he faced an opponent where he felt the same way.

• Must’ve been hard to pick just one play.

• This hurts.

• The Jared Goff chants simply don’t get old.

• Speaking of, Goff praise coming from an unlikely source.