No cornerback had won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award since 2009, when Pro Football earned the distinction while playing for the Green Bay Packers. Fifteen years later, Pat Surtain II is making an early case to break that drought.
Surtain’s pick-six against the Las Vegas Raiders is the latest highlight of the Denver Broncos defensive back’s early-season success. In that play, NFL’s Next Gen Stats calculated his top speed at 20.92 miles per hour, the fastest among all players with a pick-six this season.
Pat Surtain II reached a top speed of 20.92 mph on his 100-yard pick-six, his fastest speed as a ball carrier since Week 12, 2021.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 6, 2024
Surtain is the first player to reach 20+ mph on a pick-six this season.#LVvsDEN | @Broncos pic.twitter.com/asAWDGpfxc
However, the former Alabama standout wasn’t done because he completed another interception, allowing only two catches and making a forced incompletion. Having Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey in attendance might have inspired the two-time Pro Bowler to elevate his game, making him Pro Football Focus’ highest graded cornerback for Week 5.
Yet even without Bailey in attendance, Surtain has been excellent. He has held notable receivers like Brock Bowers, Mike Evans, DK Metcalf, George Pickens, and Garrett Wilson to under 35 yards this season. Those receivers had a combined seven catches for 75 yards against him.
His stellar contributions helped the Broncos win three of their first five games. Surtain is a significant factor why his team is tied for second in points allowed, third in yards allowed, and second in yards per play.
Surtain and the Broncos can extend their winning streak to four games against another division rival, the Los Angeles Chargers, in Week 6.
-Lance Fernandez