ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Of all the awards Pat Surtain II has captured in his still young NFL career, the most expected came Wednesday when he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
The Broncos' cornerback made the play of the game in his team's 34-18 victory Sunday against the rival Las Vegas Raiders in an AFC West Division game played at Empower Field at Mile High. The Raiders were leading, 10-3 in the second quarter and were headed for more as they had a first-goal opportunity at the 5-yard line.
But Raiders' quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who was 9 of 9 passing at that point, overthrew tight end Brock Bowers, and Surtain left his man to break on the ball, He gathered the floater at the goal line and sprinted 100 yards the other way for a touchdown.
Instead of falling behind, 17-3, the Broncos were tied, 10-10 - a 14-point swing that keyed a run of 34 unanswered points.
Surtain added another interception in the fourth quarter off Raiders' backup quarterback Aidan O'Connell that set up the Broncos' final touchdown.
Known as arguably the league's best pure, cover corner, Surtain is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons that also included a first-team All Pro distinction in 2022. Still only 24 years old and in his fourth season, the Broncos signed Surtain to a four-year, $96 million record contract extension days before the start of the regular season last month.
The only nitpick to Surtain's game is he had been in an interception slump until Sunday.
Surtain had two interceptions, including a 70-yard pick six during his rookie year off the Chargers' Justin Herbert in 2021. But he had just one interception is his previous 24 games until he had two on Sunday.
