The NFC North just got a little more unpredictable-and the Chicago Bears may be the ones who benefit most.
According to reports, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles during the team’s 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14. He’s set to undergo further testing to confirm the extent of the injury, but the early outlook isn’t promising. If the diagnosis holds, the Lions will be without one of their most dynamic defensive playmakers for the rest of the season.
And make no mistake-Branch has been a difference-maker.
Through 12 games this year, Branch has piled up 75 tackles, nine pass breakups, five tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. That’s not just production-that’s impact.
He earned Pro Bowl honors last season and finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2023. His versatility and explosiveness have made him a cornerstone of Detroit’s secondary, and losing him at this stage of the season is a gut punch for a team with playoff aspirations.
For the Bears, this news could shift the balance heading into a pivotal Week 18 showdown.
The last time these two teams met, it was all Lions. Detroit rolled to a dominant 52-21 win, and Branch was all over the field-six tackles, two for loss, a quarterback hit, a sack, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble. He was a one-man wrecking crew, and Chicago had no answers.
But that was Week 2. A lot has changed since then.
The Lions, now 8-5, are still finding ways to win, but they’re limping into the final stretch. Branch’s injury adds to a growing list of setbacks for Detroit, which already includes key names like tight end Sam LaPorta. The team that steamrolled Chicago early in the season isn't the same squad heading into the final weeks.
On the flip side, the Bears have flipped the script in a major way. After starting the season 0-2, Chicago has caught fire-winning nine of their last 10 games and surging to the top of both the NFC North and the entire conference. The defense has tightened up, the offense has found rhythm, and the team is playing with confidence and purpose.
So now, that Week 18 matchup? It’s looking a whole lot different.
Both teams are very much in the playoff hunt, and that regular season finale could carry major postseason implications. For Chicago, it could be a chance to clinch the division or even lock up home-field advantage. For Detroit, it might be about holding onto a wild card spot or salvaging momentum heading into January.
Either way, the stakes are high-and with Branch likely sidelined, the Bears might have just gained a key edge in a game that could decide everything.