Pat Surtain II: Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week
New year, new money, and new achievements for Pat Surtain II. The Denver Broncos defeated the Las Vegas Raiders last week, but it was Surtain II's standout performance that stole the spotlight. He tallied three tackles, two interceptions, and a touchdown in the Broncos 34-18 victory over the Raiders. His 100-yard interception-return for a touchdown in the second quarter marked a significant milestone, becoming the third interception-return of at least 100 yards in Broncos history.
In an interview with Zac Stevens, Surtain reflected on his pick-six, stating, "That's definitely my best play as a Bronco, that's because the magnitude of it. The raiders were looking to score and make it a two-possession game. To change the moment and hear the crowd shift and the uproars in that magnitude, in that moment I can for sure say it was the best play in my career."
With his stellar performance, Surtain II has managed to earn his second-career Player of the Week award, having previously won it in Week 12 of the 2021 season. He joins Justin Simmons and Aqib Talib as the only Broncos defensive backs to earn the honor multiple times.
Surtain II and former college teammate Xavier McKinney (who earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week this week) are now the third and fourth former University of Alabama defensive backs to receive multiple Player of the Week Awards, joining Landon Collins (four-time winner), Roman Harber (three) and Eddie Jackson (two).
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