The Denver Broncos have been anchored by their elite defense. Despite an occasionally struggling offense, Denver’s defenders have always kept the team in the game. However, every elite defense needs one elite player to lead the way, and for the Broncos, that has been reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain.
Patrick Surtain has been the best cornerback in football for at least the last two seasons. With his incredible PFF grades, Surtain demonstrated a nearly unprecedented level of dominance at his position.
Thus, many fans became worried when Surtain got hurt in week eight against Dallas. They feared that Denver’s defense would not be as formidable as it was and needed to be. Without Surtain, it was clear that the rest of the secondary would need to step up. And that’s exactly what they did.
Surtain’s Safety Saviors
For any team losing depth at the cornerback position, having reliable safeties is paramount. The value that they provide is in the position’s name. Thus, it is no surprise that the stellar play from Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones has helped make and keep the Broncos’ defense so fantastic.
After a couple of injury-filled, lackluster seasons in San Francisco, some Broncos fans worried about Hufanga joining the squad. However, since being back, Hufanga has quickly elevated his game to his previous All-Pro level.
Ranking 1st in tackles and 2nd in pass breakups among safeties, he has already put himself in some elite conversations. Having already earned captain status, Hufanga has been leading both the secondary and the defense itself to new heights. However, he has not done so alone.
Brandon Jones finished last season towards the top in PFF coverage grades and overall grades among safeties, and he hasn’t lost a step. His PFF stats have taken a slight hit with Hufanga sharing the safety burden. However, anyone watching the Broncos’ game can see his impact. His ability to fall back into coverage and step up to make tackles has truly fortified Denver’s defense.
In the last few games without Surtain, Hufanga and Jones have really stepped up. Hufanga has put the team on his back in the previous few games, totaling 24 tackles, three tackles for loss, three passes defended, and a sack.
Meanwhile, Jones has continued his elite play, as he helped keep both the Raiders and Texans under 200 passing yards. However, as good as the safeties have been, the cornerbacks have been just as crucial.
Surtain’s Supplementary Stars
With Patrick Surtain’s injury, the Hufanga and Jones have been working hard to help out their corners and keep the defense afloat. However, it is the corners themselves who have literally had to step up, as they have all been forced to move up the depth chart. Thankfully for Broncos fans, their fellow starting cornerbacks, Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian, have been equal to the task.
Riley Moss has established himself as a cogent cornerback sidekick to Patrick Surtain. However, Moss also became known for being a very volatile player with high highs and low lows.
Moss leads the league in pass interferences, but he also sits in the top ten for passes defended and top five for tackles among corners. More importantly, though, Riley Moss has allowed the lowest completion percentage in the entire league with just 45.6%. With Surtain out, Moss has more than proven himself to be a reliable No. 1 corner.
McMillan’s Moment
The Broncos’ other starting cornerback, slot corner Ja’Quan McMillian, has also been playing out of his mind lately. Many Broncos fans remember his initial rise during their brief yet miraculous run in 2023, coach Sean Payton‘s first year.
For fans who may have forgotten, during that stretch, a struggling Broncos team managed to win five straight games. They knocked off the Packers, Bills, and Vikings in dramatic fashion while beating the Chiefs for the first time in 16 games. Moreover, during those games, McMillan put up two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a tackle for loss, and two passes defended.
In that run, McMillan proved that, despite not being a big name, he was a tremendous slot corner. So, when the Broncos drafted cornerback Jahdae Barron from Texas in the first round, McMillan’s role appeared to be in danger. However, in Surtain’s absence, he showed exactly why he was the man for the starting job.
barrIn last week’s huge divisional game against the Chiefs, McMillan put together a monster performance. With two sacks, a pass defended, an interception, and a pick six (negated by a Riley Moss hold), McMillan showed the world what he’s capable of.
While the other Broncos starting cornerbacks deserve their flowers, they are not the only ones. Surtain’s injury was bound to dramatically increase the playing time of another cornerback or two on the roster. That’s exactly what has happened to Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine. And they’ve handled the challenge well.
Surtain’s Secondary Substitutes
With Patrick Surtain out, rookie Jahdae Barron and sophomore Kris Abrams-Draine have been taking care of the other outside corner role. As discussed with Jones, statistics rarely favor secondary players. Outside of interceptions and passes defended, identifying elite secondary players can be challenging.
Thus, while neither Barron nor Abrams-Draine put up otherworldly stats, they did their jobs. And they did it well.
All three teams Denver faced without Surtain were, more or less, kept in check through the air. Moreover, each game was very close, and in each game, Denver’s secondary became better and better down the stretch. The Texans, Raiders, and Chiefs all had chances to win in the fourth.
With Barron and Abrams-Draine playing key minutes, though, all three teams were shut down. Abrams-Draine himself even had a crucial pass breakup in Kansas City’s final drive.
https://twitter.com/MileHighMims/status/1990542296862073107
Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine have not yet established themselves as elite. However, Denver’s defense, before Surtain’s injury, was held at a very high standard. A standard that would prove difficult for any young replacements to immediately meet.
However, Barron and Abrams-Draine have been exactly what any Broncos fan could’ve hoped for. Furthermore, fans have no reason to believe that they can’t hold down the fort until Surtain returns.
Surtain’s Subsequent Suitup
Patrick Surtain should return for Denver’s week 13 matchup against the Commanders. With the Broncos’ week 12 bye week, he should have plenty of time to ensure that he’s ready.
Surtain’s return will likely reduce Barron and Abrams-Draine’s role substantially. However, in his absence, they showed that they can be depended upon if ever needed again.
As for the fellow starting corners, Moss and McMillian will look to continue their terrific play. If Moss’ lockdown coverage continues (hopefully without the flags), and if McMillian goes on another monster run, Denver will truly be unstoppable.
The safeties, Hufanga and Jones, will be able to take a breath with Surtain coming back. There is no reason that their play should falter either.
If Denver was able to win three straight and dominate defensively without Surtain, then all anyone can do is pray for the other teams when he returns.
Leave a comment