Brian Branch is sent off by the Lions Packers after taking a serious hit to his head

The Detroit Lions lost arguably their best defensive player to an ejection against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Safety Brian Branch was ejected for an unnecessary roughness penalty on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton in the second quarter with the Lions leading 7-3.

Quarterback Jordan Love bought time and attempted to place a shot down the sideline to Melton on 2nd-and-20, but the pass went out of bounds. Branch took off and eliminated Melton with a helmet-to-helmet punch that drew a flag.

The referees initially thought it was just unnecessary rudeness, but after a conversation, declared Branch out of the game. Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino said the referees received live assistance from the NFL's replay officials in New York to make the call a ejection.

“It happened so late, it had to come from New York,” Blandino said. “They looked at it and concluded that the hit amounted to a disqualification.”

Branch was a standout and important cog in the Lions defense in his second season, and for the first time at safety. Through the first six games, Branch had four interceptions, 38 tackles and a forced fumble, building on his rookie season in which he finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Fox color commentator and Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady completely disagreed with the exclusion, saying it was a step too far for the play.

“I don’t like this call at all,” Brady said. “I mean, it's obviously a penalty.” But for me that has to be a serious intention in a game like this.

“They have to adjust the rest of the game and they lose their best defensive player, who I know they expected to have a big day today. He’s not an easy guy to replace.”

Last year, Broncos safety Kareem Jackson was ejected in September for a hit that suggested unnecessary roughness. Later in October, Jackson was ejected from a game and suspended for four games in the NFL.

The loss of Branch meant Brandon Joseph will have plenty to offer in the secondary alongside Kerby Joseph, Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis. The Packers missed a field goal on the drive.

After a Lions field goal, Joseph made his sixth interception of the season for the league lead and returned it 27 yards to the house for a 17-3 lead with 32 seconds left before halftime.

Alex Anzalone put pressure on Love after suffering a groin injury in the rain and slippery conditions.

The Lions and Packers are battling for first place in the NFC at the halfway point of the season. The Lions (6-1) were slight favorites over the Packers (6-2), with the teams sporting win streaks of five and four, respectively.

The Lions are already shorthanded on defense. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is out with an ankle injury, defensive end Josh Paschal is out for the second straight season due to illness, and edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport and linebacker Derrick Barnes are out for the season.

The Lions have less than two days to add to the roster through a trade. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m., and the Lions are looking for talent in the front seven to offset some of those losses.

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