KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A protracted, irritating night time for the Detroit Lions inside Arrowhead Stadium ended with security Brian Department delivering an open-handed strike to Kansas Metropolis Chiefs large receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, setting off a quick fistfight amongst gamers from each groups.
Following Kansas Metropolis's 30-17 victory Sunday night time, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tried to offer a high-five to Department as they met close to midfield. Department walked proper previous Mahomes, and Chiefs large receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster took umbrage with the transfer, strolling as much as Department and having a couple of phrases with him.
Department responded by slapping Smith-Schuster within the facemask, which despatched him to the bottom.
“It was a infantile factor, however I am bored with folks doing stuff in between the play and refs do not catch it,” Department stated. “They be attempting to bully me on the market. I ought to have by no means did it. It was infantile.”
Smith-Schuster leaped to his ft and went after Department, who performed by way of an ankle harm that had stored him out of form a lot of the week. Chiefs working again Isiah Pacheco tried to get between them, however Department succeeded in ripping Smith-Schuster's helmet off as dozens of gamers from each groups converged on the scrum.
“He is an excellent participant and he is enormous for [their] crew,” Smith-Schuster stated of Department. “After the sport, I anticipated to shake his hand and say, ‘Good sport.' However he threw a punch.”
Department stated he was blocked within the again illegally by Smith-Schuster towards the tip of the sport in entrance of the referees they usually did not reply.
“I may've received damage off of that play,” Department stated. “I nonetheless should not have performed that.”
Requested what he thought prompted Department's actions, Smith-Schuster replied, “I imply, me simply blocking him.”
“I am simply doing my job,” Smith-Schuster continued. “I play between the whistles.”
Finally, coaches and gamers managed to separate the events, they usually lastly left the sector for the locker room. Department may very well be dealing with one more hefty fantastic — he was docked $23,186 for face-masking and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in opposition to Inexperienced Bay final month — and even perhaps a suspension.
“I really like Brian Department,” Lions coach Dan Campbell stated, “however what he did is inexcusable, and it is not going to be accepted right here. It isn't what we do. It isn't what we're about. I apologized to Coach (Andy) Reid and the Chiefs, and Smith-Schuster. That is not OK. That is not what we do right here. It isn't going to be OK. He is aware of it. Our crew is aware of it. That is not what we do.”
Smith-Schuster got here away with a bloody nostril.
“The man got here up and hit JuJu for what regarded like no motive,” Reid stated. “That is robust and he did fairly good harm on JuJu's nostril.”
Veteran Lions defensive lineman DJ Reader stated he deliberate to speak with Department as soon as the feelings from Sunday die down.
“We'll have that dialog. It is exhausting to have that dialog proper now as a result of everyone's attempting to have the dialog,” Reader stated. “I am positive I will get an opportunity to speak to him however it's robust as a result of he is received that stinger for a motive as a participant and you do not ever need to take that away, however you additionally need him to be sensible. Not just for us, but in addition for himself. To guard his cash, to guard him.”
The loss snapped a four-game profitable streak for Detroit, which was attempting to drag off a uncommon feat by profitable two consecutive video games in Arrowhead Stadium. As an alternative, the Lions allowed 355 yards of complete offense, pressured only one punt and had been unable to make the stops they wanted late within the fourth quarter to offer their offense an opportunity to mount a comeback.
Jared Goff completed with simply 203 yards passing, although he did have landing throws to Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta, whereas Amon-Ra St. Brown was held to 45 yards receiving. Jahmyr Gibbs wanted 17 carries for 65 yards.
“That is a bodily crew they usually have a mentality that they arrive in to play with and we'll match that mentality,” Mahomes stated. “We're not afraid to go up in opposition to anyone. That is the mentality Coach Reid brings each single day and we'll match the depth of whoever steps on that area.”
ESPN's Eric Woodyard, Nate Taylor and The Related Press contributed to this report.
