Broncos' Patrick Surtain sent a loud message to the rest of the league despite what his stats said after the game

Patrick Surtain shuts down the Tennessee Titans

When he was targeted, he broke up the pass. Surtain took Calvin Ridley out of the game, lining up against him during 27 of his 32 coverage snaps.

Ridley finished his day with four catches for 27 yards on eight targets. Overall, it was a difficult day for No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, who finished his day going 12 of 28 with 112 yards and no touchdowns with one fumble lost.

Surtain has had quite the resume, and Denver has him locked down long term after he signed a four-year contract extension in September 2024. He's been one of the best, if not the best, cornerbacks in the league, earning him Top 100 NFL honors this offseason. Performances like this are further proof that Surtain is in a league of his own.

Broncos' defense got after Cam Ward in Week 1 win vs. the Tennessee Titans

Denver built upon a successful 2024 campaign that saw the team lead the league in sacks. Early and often, Ward was down on the ground as the Broncos had six total sacks throughout the contest.

Justin Strnad, Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Jonathon Cooper, Ja'Quan McMillian and Zach Allen showed up on the stats sheet with a sack each.

However, outside of the sacks and Surtain, Talanoa Hufanga was all over the football field from the get-go. He was a one-man wrecking crew and led the team in tackles with 10.

It was a gritty victory that has the fan base ready for some more Broncos action. Denver is set to face off against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. While the defense and Patrick Surtain showed up, the offense will be the main focus after a rocky Week 1 performance.

Bo Nix and the offense struggled at times, but luckily, the defense had his back. After the contest, the quarterback opened up about just how great it was. He gave the defense its flowers while also letting the fan base know that he'll be better in the future.

Plenty of time to clean up some of these mistakes, and doing it all while securing a victory makes the win taste that much sweeter. Surtain is a monster on the football field, even if his stat sheet postgame doesn't always show it.