ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos linebacker Cody Barton earned his first AFC Defensive Player of the Week title for his impressive performance during last week’s game against New Orleans, but he couldn’t quite forget about a significant blunder he made in the match.
“Yeah, the dropped interception,” Barton remarked on Wednesday after receiving recognition for his crucial contribution that played a role in Denver’s commanding 33-10 victory over the Saints, marking head coach Sean Payton’s return to the city where he achieved its sole Super Bowl championship.
Payton expressed pride in Barton’s performance, stating, “Certainly when you look at the game, he was one of the guys on defense that got a game ball. It was a real good game for him.”
Barton had an outstanding game, finishing with six solo tackles among his eight total, a sack, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery that he returned for a 52-yard touchdown, celebrating by backpedaling into the end zone. All of this came after missing an interception opportunity that could have potentially changed the game.
Reflecting on the long weekend that included celebrations for his wife’s birthday in Vail and some outdoor activities, Barton admitted that the missed interception preoccupied his thoughts. He laughed while sharing that his wife, father, and teammates all had fun at his expense about the dropped catch. “I made sure to catch some extra balls after practice,” he explained, adding that he practiced with quarterback Zach Wilson. “But yeah, that was definitely something that stuck with me all weekend. It was in my head.”
Even though being awarded a conference honor was a significant achievement in his career, it did little to ease the disappointment. “No, it was just right there,” he said, mimicking the catch with his hands. “You guys all saw it. It’s one you don’t drop. But the next one I’ll catch, then I’ll feel a little bit better.”
Barton has stepped up impressively for the Broncos (4-3), particularly in light of starting linebacker Alex Singleton suffering a torn ACL in Week 3. Since then, Barton has taken the role of calling defensive plays.
“The good thing about this defense and something I love about this defense is everyone eats,” Barton noted. “You don’t know whose day it’s going to be. In this defense, everyone makes plays … It’s a lot of fun.”
Barton expressed satisfaction in contributing to the Broncos’ top-five ranked defense, which aligns perfectly with what he had envisioned when he signed a one-year, $3.5 million free agent contract after a successful season with Washington, where he recorded 121 tackles, following a four-year stint in Seattle.
He is an admirer of defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s aggressive tactics, which suit his style. “During free agency, I envisioned this for myself. I’ve just always believed in it. I believe in what V.J. calls and his philosophies. A lot of things defensively as a whole are coming to fruition.”
Barton was signed to fill the void left by Josey Jewell, who recently inked a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers after six seasons with the Broncos.
This Sunday, the Broncos will face off against the Panthers (1-6) in a critical matchup.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that cornerback Patrick Surtain II practiced for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 6, although he remains in the concussion protocol. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Malcolm Roach missed practice due to a fever.
