The Denver Broncos just keep finding ways to win - and in Week 15, it was Patrick Surtain II who delivered the spark that turned the tide. Trailing 23-14 against the Green Bay Packers, the Broncos needed a moment. Surtain gave them one.
With the Packers threatening to stretch their lead, Jordan Love dropped back and tried to test Denver’s secondary. Surtain, already anticipating the play before the ball was snapped, read the formation, recognized the route concept, and made the kind of interception that shifts momentum - and seasons.
“It was a pivotal situation, we needed to make a play. We got to find a way,” Surtain said after the game.
“It was the same formation look, they threw a deep pass earlier to [Christian Watson] that was overthrown. Just from recognition, I realized that they flipped the formation to the other side, trying to attack deep.
I kept my leverage, played high and made a play on the ball.”
That’s elite-level football IQ on display. Surtain didn’t just react - he anticipated.
He saw the chessboard before the move was made. And when the moment came, he didn’t hesitate.
His interception set up a quick scoring drive for Denver, and from there, the Broncos completed the comeback, walking away with a 36-24 win and improving to 12-2 on the season.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. The Broncos have now rattled off 11 straight victories, and they’re doing it with a defense that’s been one of the stingiest in the league.
Through 15 weeks, they rank fifth in total defense, allowing just 287.7 yards per game. And when it comes to stopping the run, few are better - Denver sits second in the NFL, giving up only 90.9 rushing yards per contest.
Pat Surtain II on his game-changing INT:
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) December 15, 2025
Pat said he knew it was coming pic.twitter.com/NepbVGt9hF
Even with Packers running back Josh Jacobs managing 73 yards and a touchdown in this one, Denver’s defense held strong when it mattered most. That’s been the story of this team all year - bend a little, but don’t break. And when the moment comes, make the play.
Of course, it helps when you’ve got a guy like Surtain anchoring the secondary. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is once again putting together a season worthy of elite status.
Through 11 games in 2025, he’s posted 38 tackles, 12 passes defended, and now, a key interception that helped seal a critical win. His Pro Football Focus grade of 75.9 ranks him ninth among 108 qualifying cornerbacks - and that’s not just a number.
It’s a reflection of how consistently he’s shutting down opposing receivers and making life miserable for quarterbacks.
As the Broncos eye a deep playoff run, they’ll need Surtain to keep playing at this level. And if Week 15 is any indication, he’s not just ready - he’s locked in.
Recognizing a play before it unfolds, trusting his film study, and executing under pressure - that’s what separates good cornerbacks from great ones. And right now, Surtain is playing like one of the very best in the game.
With the defense leading the charge and Surtain setting the tone, the Broncos are shaping up to be a team nobody wants to face in January.