The Detroit Lions were mightily impressive throughout the 2024 season, holding on for dear life even as injuries ravaged the entire roster. In the end, they tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for the best record in the league at 15-2.
Unlike Kansas City, though, their season ended in their first playoff game against the Washington Commanders.
With their defense in shambles, it wasn’t a complete shock in retrospect, as the Commanders hung 45 points on the Lions. However, as far as the regular season was concerned, their defense held up for the most part. Having star safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph certainly helped. In PFSN’s Top 100 Players list for 2025, Branch and Joseph are ranked the No. 1 and No. 2 safeties in the league.
Detroit Lions Boast NFL’s Best Safety Duo
Losing Aidan Hutchinson early in the year should have been a death blow to Detroit’s chances to remain competitive. However, they were able to rally around former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn even without their star edge rusher.
Even as the injuries continued to pile up, the Lions had a top-five unit in PFSN’s Defense+ metric for the season. The biggest reason for that success was their secondary, particularly at the safety position.
With an elite passing defense, it was inevitable that their safety duo of Branch and Joseph would rank favorably going into the 2025 season. In PFSN’s Top 100 Players list, they were the highest and second-highest ranked safeties in the entire league.
While Branch is ranked 12th overall, Joseph wasn’t far behind at No. 20 overall. Taken in back-to-back years, the Branch-Joseph duo is set to dominate once again after posting the best years of their career in 2024.
Calling Branch an “irreplaceable contributor,” PFSN’s Stats and Insights team detailed his breakout sophomore campaign that saw him record 44 defensive stops (second amongst safeties) and finish with the most targets at 79.
“Despite the heavy workload, Branch allowed just a 64.6% completion rate and only three touchdowns, while his 15 combined interceptions and pass breakups led the position,” PFSN’s Stats and Insights team wrote. “His playmaking was on full display throughout the season, showing up against both the pass and the run. Branch wrapped up the regular season with 109 tackles, including 79 solo stops.”
There is a lot to like about the product he put on display. However, he’s going to need to be a huge part of their attack in 2025 if the Lions want to maintain their grip atop the NFC. “His ability to impact the game in various ways makes him a foundational piece for Detroit’s defense, following the departure of coordinator Aaron Glenn.”
However, he isn’t the only one Detroit needs to rely on in the wake of Glenn’s departure. Drafted a year before Branch, Joseph, too, had an excellent 2024 season.
THE BEST SAFETY DUO IN THE NFL
BRIAN BRANCH & KERBY JOESPH 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4TWgyasUZj
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) June 9, 2025
“Joseph led the league with nine interceptions, including a pick-six, and finished third among safeties with 11 combined interceptions and pass breakups. Joseph started all 17 games for the first time in his career, recording 83 total tackles. In coverage, he allowed just a 57.1% completion rate on 28 targets, which ranked ninth among safeties,” wrote PFSN’s Stats and Insights team.
“Joseph’s coverage skills were elite. He allowed only two touchdowns and was a key part of a Detroit defense that ranked in the top five in Defense+. Joseph is set to be a cornerstone of the Lions’ defense after signing a record-setting contract extension. His improved tackling, elite ball skills, and playmaking instincts make him a valuable piece alongside Brian Branch.”
Their performance, along with the rest of the Lions’ defense, could ultimately determine how good this team can be and whether they have a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
