Tag: Pat Surtain

Broncos PFF grades: Best, worst players from 34-27 loss to Chargers

Broncos CB Kris Abrams-Draine (75.6) impressed again while LB Justin Strnad (28.7) had a night to forget. View more PFF grades here.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, Pro Football Focus has released grades for each player’s Week 16 performance.

PFF grades players on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale. Check out the best and worst of Week 16 below.

Best Offensive Players 

  • TE/FB Nate Adkins: 79.7
  • FB Michael Burton: 75.3
  • RB Audric Estime: 74.1
  • G Quinn Meinerz: 73. 6
  • RB Blake Watson: 70.6

Adkins and Burton did a good job opening up running lanes and Estime impressed, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. RB Javonte Williams (67.3) received the sixth-best grade on offense after averaging 6.0 yards per tote. Denver should have been more committed to the run.

Best Defensive Players 

  • DL Malcolm Roach 84.9
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine: 75.6
  • DL Eyioma Uwazurike: 75.5
  • DL D.J. Jones: 74.6
  • LB Drew Sanders: 73.4

One defensive snap, one sack for Sanders. Perhaps we’ll see more of him in the final two games of the regular season. Abrams-Draine, meanwhile, continues to look like a fifth-round gem.

Worst Offensive Players 

  • G Ben Powers: 42.3
  • OT Mike McGlinchey: 47.2
  • OL Matt Peart: 50.3
  • TE Adam Trautman: 52.2
  • WR Troy Franklin: 56.1

Franklin continues to struggle to make an impact. QB Bo Nix (62.6) ranked 11th among Denver’s 19 graded players on offense.

Worst Defensive Players 

  • LB Justin Strnad: 28.7
  • LB Cody Barton: 34.6
  • DB P.J. Locke: 43.7
  • DL John Franklin-Myers: 45.4
  • OLB Jonathan Cooper: 47.5

Strnad had a night to forget. In addition to his foul against a sliding Justin Herbert, the linebacker also allowed seven catches for 103 yards on eight coverage targets. The Broncos will need to make upgrading the inside linebacker position a priority in 2025.

Special Teams 

  • ST JL Skinner: 71.9
  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 64.8
  • R Marvin Mims: 61.2
  • K Wil Lutz: 73.5 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 67.5

You can view grades for every player on the paid version of PFF’s website.

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Pat Surtain’s dad was not happy with Broncos during ‘Thursday Night Football’

“Sean [Payton] run the ball. Man,” Pat Surtain’s dad tweeted during ‘Thursday Night Football.’

The Denver Broncos had a wild sequence just before halftime against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. The team’s mismanagement of the game left fans — and Pat Surtain’s dad — frustrated.

Following a Kris Abrams-Draine interception, the Broncos took over at their own 18-yard line with 41 second remaining until halftime while leading 21-10. Instead of attempting to run out the clock, Denver coach Sean Payton called pass plays on first and second down.

The first pass to running back Javonte Williams went for negative-three yards. The second pass fell incomplete, stopping the clock. Williams then rushed for one yard on third down and the Broncos were forced to punt.

Surtain’s dad — Patrick Surtain Sr. — then chimed in on Twitter/X: “Bad clock management on both sides. [Jim] Harbaugh use your timeouts, Sean [Payton] run the ball. Man.”

On the ensuing punt, Denver cornerback Tremon Smith was penalized for kick catch interference. After that 15-yard penalty spotted the ball at the Broncos’ 47-yard line, L.A. elected to kick a rare fair catch free kick to cut the deficit to 21-13 going into halftime.

Surtain Sr.’s response to the sequence: “Just DUMB…smh.”

Denver went on to lose the game 34-27. Surtain’s dad final tweet after the game was an emoji: “🤷🏾‍♂️.”

Up next for the Broncos is a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) next Saturday (Dec. 28). With two games remaining, Denver needs to win one game to clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs.

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5 things to watch for when Broncos face Chargers on ‘TNF’

Here are five storylines to watch for when the Broncos face the Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 16.

The Denver Broncos (9-5) are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. Here are five quick storylines to watch for going into Thursday’s game.

1. Broncos running back rotation: Jaleel McLaughlin has been the team’s best running back in recent weeks, but he was ruled out with a quad injury on Wednesday. That will leave Javonte Williams and rookie Audric Estime as the next men up, and Denver will likely elevate Blake Watson from the practice squad. We could see Marvin Mims mix in at running back as well, something he did leading up to the team’s bye week.

2. Denver’s cornerback depth: Riley Moss (knee) has been ruled out again, marking the third game he has missed. Fortunately, Pat Surtain (ankle) was able to practice this week and he was not given an injury designation for Thursday. Kris Abrams-Draine will likely start across from Surtain with Ja’Quan McMillian playing in the slot and Damarri Mathis getting rotational snaps like last week. When these teams met earlier this season, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 21-of-34 for 237 yards and a touchdown in a game that Surtain left with a concussion.

3. Broncos’ defense against Herbert and Co.: J.K. Dobbins rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos earlier this season, but he’s now on injured reserve. Denver pass rusher Nik Bonitto has scored a touchdown in each of the team’s last two games and he’s just one sack away from tying the NFL leader (Trey Hendrickson has 12.5 sacks). The Broncos, Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles have a three-way tie for the fewest points allowed per game (17.6), so Thursday night could be a defensive struggle.

4. Bo Nix bouncing back from three turnovers: Nix struggled against the Indianapolis Colts last week, throwing a career-high three interceptions. He had a bit of an in-game bounce back with three touchdown passes in a 31-13 win over Indy, but now Nix will have a fresh game to put those mistakes behind him. Nix will face an L.A. defense that allows the 10th-fewest passing yards per game (211.6), a unit that has totaled the seventh-most interceptions (14) and the eighth-most sacks (40) in the league this season.

5. Denver’s potential return to the postseason: The Broncos have already secured their first winning season since 2016. With one more win, Denver will clinch its first playoff berth since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime. The Broncos are one win away from clinching a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs.

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Pat Surtain says Broncos have ‘big goals’ with playoffs in sight

“The main thing is right now is to finish the season off strong the right way,” Broncos CB Pat Surtain said ahead of Thursday’s game.

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain spoke on the team’s winning record and how head coach Sean Payton is preparing them for a playoff push at a charity event on Monday.

During his time with media, Surtain was asked how it felt to have the first winning season of his career with the team.

“(It) means a lot,” Surtain said. “Obviously, we fell short these past couple of years, but it happens. Winning records and having these contagious energy, it honestly means something, right? Because I’ve been talking about the organization that has been through it the past few years, but now we starting to get that winning attitude, that winning demeanor. So having that culture represented in the Broncos organization means a lot.”

With the playoffs just one win away, Surtain and the Broncos can taste the postseason. Head coach Sean Payton knows well how a playoff push can affect a team.

“(Coach Payton is) preparing us very well,” said Surtain. “He understands what it takes to get there, so we just taking it on and following his approach. So yeah, we taking it day by day, week by week, and obviously we got big goals ahead of us. But, the main thing is right now is to finish the season off strong the right way, so we could allow ourselves to get to that mark.”

Surtain and the Broncos look to secure their spot in the playoffs with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.

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Broncos’ final injury report gives updates on Pat Surtain and Riley Moss

Broncos CB Pat Surtain (ankle) is good to go for ‘Thursday Night Football,’ but fellow CB Riley Moss (knee) has been ruled out.

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain (ankle) has been cleared to play in a Thursday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers after fully participating in practice this week.

Fellow cornerback Riley Moss (knee) has been ruled out after being limited at practice this week. With Moss unavailable, Kris Abrams-Draine and Damarri Mathis are the candidates to replace him in the lineup.

Elsewhere on the injury front, defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (foot) was an estimated full participant Wednesday after being listed as a non-participant on Tuesday and Monday. Denver’s backup defensive linemen are Malcolm Roach, Jordan Jackson and Eyioma Uwazurike.

With running back Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) ruled out, rookie Blake Watson will likely be a candidate to get elevated from the practice squad.

Denver’s final injury report can be seen below. Note that team held two walk-through practices, so participation reports are estimates. DNP = did not participate.

Player Mon Tue Wed Game Status
CB Pat Surtain (ankle) Full Full Full
DL John Franklin-Myers (foot) DNP DNP Full
DL D.J. Jones (finger) DNP Limited Full
RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) DNP Limited DNP Out
CB Riley Moss (knee) DNP Limited DNP Out

Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime. The Broncos are one win away from clinching a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs.

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Broncos CB Kris Abrams-Draine is ‘built for moments like this’

“He’s built for moments like this,” Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain said of impressive rookie Kris Abrams-Draine.

The Denver Broncos seem to have done it again.

Three years ago, the Broncos used a first-round draft pick to select cornerback Pat Surtain. All-Pro.

Two years ago, Denver signed Ja’Quan McMillian as an undrafted free agent. Impressive slot cornerback.

Last year, the Broncos used a third-round pick to select Riley Moss. Pro Bowl-talent.

This year, Denver used a fifth-round pick to add Kris Abrams-Draine. So far so good.

With Moss (knee) sidelined, Abrams-Draine made his NFL debut in Week 13, then he saw extensive action in Week 15 coming out of the bye. He allowed just one catch for 11 yards in 34 coverage snaps on Sunday, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

“The last two weeks, he showed some moxie, stayed with his guys, didn’t panic when the ball was in the air,” coach Sean Payton said this week. “There’s something about him and so … I was really encouraged.”

Abrams-Draine rotated with Damarri Mathis, who also played well on Sunday. Mathis has had an up-and-down tenure in Denver and he has one year left on his contract, so it’s no surprise that fans have focused on Abrams-Draine over the last two weeks.

“He’s developing very well,” Surtain said when asked about Abrams-Draine last week. “He’s learning fast. He’s played a good amount of ball — a great amount of ball actually in the SEC. He’s built for moments like this. To see him out there with those few snaps, I think he did pretty good.”

The 23-year-old defensive back appears to have a bright future ahead of him, and the Broncos might just have the best cornerback room in the NFL.

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Pat Surtain full, Riley Moss limited on Broncos’ injury report Tuesday

Broncos CB Pat Surtain (ankle) was a full participant and CB Riley Moss (knee) was limited at Tuesday’s practice.

The Denver Broncos held a walk-through practice on Tuesday and cornerback Pat Surtain (ankle) fully participated after previously being listed as an estimated full participant on Monday. The cornerback told Broncos Wire at a charity event on Monday that his ankle is “better.”

Meanwhile, fellow cornerback Riley Moss (knee) was limited on Tuesday after being listed as a non-participant Monday. Moss was spotted working out on the field before the team’s game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but his Week 16 status is uncertain.

If Moss is unable to play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, Kris Abrams-Draine and Damarri Mathis would be the candidates to replace him in the lineup.

Assuming Surtain is able to suit up on Thursday, he would start across from one of Moss, Abrams-Draine or Mathis with Ja’Quan McMillian playing in the slot.

Denver’s complete Tuesday injury report can be seen below. DNP = did not participate.

Player Mon Tue Wed Game Status
CB Pat Surtain (ankle) Full Full
DL John Franklin-Myers (foot) DNP DNP
DL D.J. Jones (finger) DNP Limited
RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) DNP Limited
CB Riley Moss (knee) DNP Limited

The Broncos will release their final injury report on Wednesday.

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Pro Bowl fan voting update is good news for 2 Broncos players

Pat Surtain and Nik Bonitto are on pace to make the Pro Bowl, but other Broncos players need your vote.

Fan voting for the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games opened three weeks ago and we have received our third round of voting updates. The Denver Broncos have 11 players in the top ten at their respective positions after the third wave of voting.

  • Pat Surtain: 2nd-most votes at cornerback (2nd in AFC)
  • Nik Bonitto: 2nd-most votes at outside linebacker (2nd in AFC)
  • Riley Dixon: 5th-most votes at punter (3rd in AFC)
  • Wil Lutz: 6th-most votes at kicker (4th in AFC)
  • Michael Burton: 6th-most votes at fullback (4th in AFC)
  • Zach Allen: 8th-most votes at defensive tackle (4th-most in the AFC)
  • Marvin Mims: 10th-most votes at returner (4th in AFC)
  • Brandon Jones: 10th-most votes at strong safety (5th in AFC)
  • Bo Nix: 10th-most votes at quarterback (5th in AFC)
  • Mitchel Frabroni: 10th-most votes at long snapper (5th in AFC)
  • Tremon Smith: 10th-most votes on special teams (5th in AFC)

Snubs in the top ten include guard Quinn Meinerz and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. Both players could make up ground when players and coaches add their votes later this month.

Surtain and Bonitto appear to be locks to make it, but the rest of Denver’s players in the top ten might be contending for alternate spots. Allen will presumably make up ground when players and coaches vote.

Fans can vote for the Pro Bowl through Dec. 23. The 2025 Pro Bowl Games will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Feb. 2.

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Broncos CB Surtain gives positive injury update at charity event

“It’s a unique treasure to give back,” Broncos CB Pat Surtain said at his charity event on Monday, giving away 100 bikes to kids in Aurora.

Denver Broncos cornerback and potential Defensive Player of the Year candidate Pat Surtain gave a positive update on the condition of his injured ankle at a charity event on Monday.

“It’s better,” Surtain said. “I’m taking it day-by-day, that’s about it.”

Surtain injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Reports have indicated it’s a minor sprain, and Surtain was listed as a full participant on the Broncos’ estimated Monday injury report.

Surtain teamed up with Raising Cane’s and A Precious Child to give away 100 bicycles to children in Aurora, Colorado on Monday. This was the fifth annual giveaway, and this year 2,500 bikes were given away at 25 locations across the U.S.

“It’s always a great experience to give back to those who are less fortunate,” Surtain said. “It shows true character to give back. Denver shows great support to me, so I’ve got to show great support back in a meaningful way. … Just seeing the kids’ smile on their faces, it’s a unique treasure to give back. Because I understand how much this means to them.”

Surtain took time to take pictures and interact with fans and recipients at the event. He will now turn attention toward preparing for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 19.

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Pat Surtain full, Riley Moss DNP on Broncos’ estimated injury report

Broncos CB Pat Surtain (ankle) was listed as a full participant on the team’s estimated Monday injury report.

The Denver Broncos did not practice on Monday, but the team was required to release an estimated injury report because they play on Thursday this week.

Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain (ankle) was listed as a full participant while fellow defensive back Riley Moss (knee) was listed as a non-participant.

If Surtain and Moss were not able to play on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16, Kris Abrams-Drain and Damarri Mathis would presumably be the next men up to start at the outside cornerback spots with Ja’Quan McMillian playing in the slot.

After that trio, the Broncos’ remaining depth at cornerback consists of special teams ace Tremon Smith and veteran Levi Wallace, who was a healthy scratch on Sunday after he struggled in Week 13.

At the moment, though, it appears that PS2 is good to go. We’ll see if Moss is able to practice at all later this week.

Elsewhere on the injury front, running back Jaleel McLaughlin (quad), defensive lineman D.J. Jones (finger) and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (foot) were listed as non-participants.

Denver’s complete (estimated) injury report can be seen below. DNP = did not participate.

Player Mon Tue Wed Game Status
CB Pat Surtain (ankle) Full
DL John Franklin-Myers (foot) DNP
DL D.J. Jones (finger) DNP
RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) DNP
CB Riley Moss (knee) DNP

The Broncos will release two more injury reports later this week before announcing game statuses for Thursday’s game in Los Angeles.

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