Broncos corner Pat Surtain II looks to bounce back from a difficult loss – Denver Broncos Website

ENGLEWOOD COLO. — The first season of Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II‘s career have been nothing short of impressive, but the disappointment enveloping the team’s season has found its way to his locker.

Among the things that didn’t go nearly as well as the Broncos (3-7) wanted in the 22-16 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders this past Sunday — the Broncos’ third overtime loss of the season — was the seven-catch, 141-yard, two-touchdown afternoon by Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams. Not all of the breakdowns came on Surtain’s watch, but he trailed Adams on the 35-yard touchdown in overtime that ended the game.

Adams was caught on camera after the play saying Surtain “is not there yet.’’

“It’s tough when things like that happen,’’ Surtain said. “You compete and that’s tough. All I can accomplish is what I need to do, correct any mistakes and get better. That’s always my mindset.’’

“Davante definitely likes to create some excitement there. I think it's great,’’ said Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett, who spent three seasons with Adams when Hackett was the Green Bay Packers Offensive coordinator. “We're going to see a lot of great battles with those two guys. This is one of the great things about his being in this division. He’s going to test Pat and Pat is going to test him.’’

The Week 12 game was really the first time in his young NFL career when Surtain had felt the sting of a final play that didn’t go his way.

The Broncos have spent much of the season among the league’s top three in pass defense, as well as scoring defense. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has repeatedly said Surtain is a player “we can do a lot of things with because he’s up to any challenge we give him.’’

His 14 passes defensed by the Broncos in 2021 was second only to retired corner Domonique, who had 16 passes in his rookie season 2005. This season, even with Adams’ effort this past Sunday, few quarterbacks have elected to challenge Surtain all that often.

Evero said Surtain has affected almost everything opposing quarterbacks do even though Surtain doesn’t have an interception this season.

“I have full confidence in [Surtain],’’ Evero said. “ … He’s going to bounce back [from Sunday]. He’s going to be just fine.’’

Secondary coaches understand that secondary coaches who dwell on their errors, even for one play, or for a whole week, are more likely than others to make mistakes. Especially when positioning and angles — “leverage’’ as the defensive backs call it — are more important than ever as contact with receivers is a “point of emphasis’’ almost annually from the league’s officials.

“It’s why he and I have talked about competitiveness,’’ Surtain’s father, Patrick Surtain, an 11-year cornerback in the NFL and currently a Miami Dolphins Assistant coach, stated earlier this season. “You want that fire, that desire to line up and battle on every snap, but you can’t be angry in a way where you lose your technique or your positioning. He’s always had that ability to compete at the highest level and keep his calm.’’

Some of his qualities were evident in the weeks that followed Sunday. Surtain was clearly disappointed after what had just occurred, but he kept his composure and answered all the inevitable questions.

Denver's two defensive captains — safeties Justin Simmons Kareem Jackson — also took a few moments to talk him through things Surtain hadn’t likely felt after a game, maybe, ever.

“He knows,’’ Jackson said. “This league is about consistency in everything you do, how you prepare, how you react to things. No matter how bad it gets, you are always ready for the next play. That’s what it is and he does that every day.’’

Surtain has only given up three completions greater than 20 yards this season. This is despite the attention the Raiders paid him Sunday. He still has two games against Chiefs, Rams and Chargers in the last two weeks of the season.

“You just work and correct what needs correcting,’’ Surtain said. “That’s what you can do and what I can do. Just get better and I will.’’