On Monday, the Denver Broncos had one of the most gut-wrenching losses in franchise history to the Los Angeles Chargers. However, one shining light has consistently given Broncos Country something they can be proud of.
Patrick Surtain II continues to out-impress himself week-to-week.
According to NextGen Stats, Surtain did not allow a single reception in coverage for the second time in a game this season. That equates to just a 39.6 passer rating allowed.
Patrick Surtain did not allow a reception in coverage for the second time in a game this season.
Surtain has allowed just 142 yards on 35 targets this season, the 2nd-fewest yards allowed in the NFL (min. 30 targets).#DENvsLAC | #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/50JSh6Z8tT
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 18, 2022
Surtain lined up with Mike Williams on 73.2% of his routes. Williams has been the team’s No. 1 receiver as Keenan Allen has remained out with a hamstring injury. Overall, Williams finished the night with just two receptions for 17 yards.
While the Broncos as a team has continued to flounder, Surtain’s dominant performance has not gone unnoticed.
In a recent piece, Football Outsiders’ Derrik Klassen wrote, “Patrick Surtain II is the best cornerback in the NFL right now. No Caveats, no qualifiers, no additional clauses: Nobody is playing the position better than Surtain.”
To help back that up, Pro Football Focus rated Surtain as the NFL’s best cornerback in coverage through the season’s first five weeks.
So far this season, the growing Broncos superstar has allowed just 142 yards on 35 targets. That is the 2nd-fewest yards allowed from any player in the NFL with a minimum of 30 targets.
What’s most impressive about Surtain’s stat lines is the level of talent he’s being assigned to shadow. He is being challenged by the team’s best receiver every week, never wavering.
Here’s a look at the receivers he’s shut down so far this year:
- Week 1: DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
- Week 2: Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans
- Week 3: Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
- Week 4: Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 5: Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
- Week 6: Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
Surtain has plenty of opportunities coming up to cement his status as one of, if not the best cornerback in the league. Still left on the agenda for this year, he will presumably go up against DJ Moore, Cooper Kupp, Deandre Hopkins, Keenan Allen, and potentially Travis Kelce.
The Broncos will try to get things back on track on Sunday when they return home to play the New York Jets. Surtain will likely face New York Jets rookie receiver Garrett Wilson, who had 14 targets, 102 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in Week 1.
Denver (2-4) and Surtain host New York (4-2) this Sunday, with a 2:05 p.m. MT kickoff.