In Detroit’s 20-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Lions rookie Brian Branch had a performance that had never been recorded in the NFL previously.

Branch made 11 tackles, registered three tackles for loss and broke up two passes.

Since tackles for loss and passes defended began being recorded in 1999, there have been 11 games in which a player has reached those numbers in those three statistical categories. Ten times, the player has been a linebacker. Branch is the only defensive back on the list.

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“He really stepped up,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said after the game. “You could feel his energy. He gets better every practice, every day he gets a little bit better, and now some of those critical errors aren’t as — particularly today, he’s making big plays in critical moments as opposed to the other way, so there again, the more he plays the better he gets and the more he understands what we’re trying to do with him.

“He’s a playmaker.”

Branch joined the Lions from Alabama in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 28. Detroit has used him mainly as its nickel back, and Branch returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown in his NFL debut on Sept. 7, when the Lions defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 21-20.

Branch’s play has drawn attention around the NFL. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin was talking about Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr. this week in advance of the Steelers’ game on Sunday against the Texans when he brought up Branch. Tomlin had dinner with the Crimson Tide standouts before Alabama’s pro day in March.

“The guy that was sitting on the other side of me during that dinner was Brian Branch, the safety for the Detroit Lions,” Tomlin said. “And if you look at the quality of his play, I’m not surprised by that. Both guys — engaged, great questions, taking advantage of the opportunity to get to eat with a guy like me and extracted as much information from me as I extracted from them. And so when guys behave like that and do some of the things he did, I’m not surprised when they’re the type of players that they are. …

“When I see passion for the game and energy for the game and intellectual development and seeking the knowledge and some of that stuff, that’s the thing that makes freakish talent turn into freakish play, so I’m not surprised with the success that (Anderson) is having based on my experience with him – or Brian Branch in Detroit for that matter.”

The Lions rebounded from a 37-31 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 17 by holding Atlanta to 183 yards and pinning the first loss of the season on the Falcons.

“Our defense is going to be unstoppable if we’re able to produce like that night in and night out,” Branch said, “and that’s a scary thing. …

“We haven’t reached the goal yet. Each game we try to play to the standard that we set ourselves to, and it’s going to be a long season, so one game at a time. Hopefully, we will reach that goal that we want to reach.”

Detroit has won two of its first three games this season. In 2021, it took the Lions 14 games to get two victories, and, in 2022, it took eight.

Campbell has been pleased with the contributions of Detroit’s two second-round picks – Branch and Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta.

“They are very instinct, aware players,” Campbell said. “They’re smart, and they play fast. What you saw in college is what you’re starting to see here. Their instincts are there. They work extremely hard. And I would say they’re both becoming pretty dependable pretty quickly.

“Both of them still, they’re rookies. They still have rookie errors, but I would say they’re growing extremely fast. And they’re both guys that don’t make the same mistake twice. When you’re talking about rookie that can grow and develop quickly, that’s what they all have in common.”

The Lions return to the field at 7:15 p.m. CDT Thursday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

“You practice how you play,” Branch said, “and I try to preach that to myself. This week, we don’t really get to practice, so we shall see how Thursday goes.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.