The 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year started the 2025 season with a stat line that showed one pass breakup. But that was all that Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II could have recorded in the Broncos’ 20-12 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, only one of Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward’s 28 passes went to a receiver covered by Surtain.
“Every time I go into a game, I try not to give up a catch and make an impact on the field,” Surtain said, “even though you don’t see it that much on the stat sheet. As long as I’m holding it down, I know the defense could be even more successful, especially with the players that I got around me.”
Surtain spent most of Sunday’s game covering another former Alabama standout, Calvin Ridley. The Tennessee wide receiver ran five pass route when he wasn’t covered by Surtain. On those five, Ridley had four receptions while Surtain did not give up a reception for the eighth time in his 67 NFL regular-season games.
“Throughout the game, you always think that every play that they’re going to throw your way,” Surtain said. “Like, you’re never going to go through a play and be lax and think like, ‘OK, they going to avoid me, this and that.’ But I feel like as long as I’m doing my job the right way and causing pressure on the offense and locking down my side, I think that makes my job easier in a way. But, you know, I never go in with the mindset that I would never get tested.
“And when those opportunities come, I know that I got to make a play because the few amount of times that they test me, I realize, like, it’s all or nothing right here because I may not see a throw throughout the rest of the game. So I think it’s all about being sharp, being locked in and understanding your assignment.”
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Last season, Surtain still managed to have four interceptions, and he led the NFL with 132 interception-return yards as one of his picks went back 100 yards for a touchdown.
“Shoot, maybe like three picks and three touchdowns or something like that -- a crazy stat line,” Surtain said when asked what a perfect game by an NFL cornerback would look like. “But it’s crazy with corners. I feel like great corners, you don’t often see them fill the stat sheet up. And a lot of people tend to look at highlights and stats, but I feel like as a cornerback, the main job for you to do is to eliminate receivers from getting yards and getting completions. And so I feel like when you’re doing your job in that part, it speaks louder than a highlight reel.”
The Broncos play the Indianapolis Colts at 3:05 p.m. CDT Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in Week 2 of the NFL’s 2025 season.
The Colts opened their season with a 33-8 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
“I think they got a unique set of pass-catchers,” Surtain said. “I think (Michael) Pittman, he’s a reliable target. He’s got great hands, good body control. (Alec) Pierce, he’s a speedster. He could run down the field. And (Adonai) Mitchell, I think he has all the tools to be successful. I think he’s shifty, crafty and all that. So it’s going to be a good test for us to see where we’re at and just keep on improving in that regard. Just going up against better receiving corps each and every week, and we’re just going to see where we stand with them.”
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