ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II has a strong chance of neutralizing Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, given past performance. During their initial encounter in 2021 as rookies, Surtain successfully limited Chase to just one catch for three yards, despite Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throwing for a mere 157 yards that day.
“He played at a high level back then, especially for a rookie,” Surtain reflected. “The Bengals had a dynamic offense, but we managed to contain the big plays and focus on their primary threat. Chase is an exceptional talent, arguably one of the premier receivers in the NFL.”
This weekend, Surtain and the Broncos’ defense will benefit from the anticipated return of second-year cornerback Riley Moss, who has been sidelined for a month due to a sprained MCL.
Moss’s comeback will enable defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to shift back to mostly man coverage, which could allow Surtain to closely mark Chase, who has accumulated 108 catches for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Moss can cover Tee Higgins, who has tallied 58 receptions for 727 yards and seven touchdowns.
“The challenge is significant because they have a well-rounded offense,” Surtain added. “If we can neutralize them like we did a couple of years ago, that would be fantastic.”
Containing Chase’s explosive potential could significantly aid the Broncos (9-6) in their effort to oust the Bengals (7-8) from playoff contention. Cincinnati must secure a win against Denver to keep their postseason hopes alive, while a victory or tie for the Broncos would clinch their first playoff spot since 2015.
During their previous encounter in 2021, the Bengals and Broncos both boasted a 7-6 record when Surtain and Chase first clashed. Although Chase faced one of the toughest games of his career statistically, the Bengals managed to pull off a narrow 15-10 victory that ultimately set them on a journey to the Super Bowl.
The Broncos, on the other hand, ended that season with a disappointing four-game losing streak, finishing 7-10, which marked the beginning of a painful series of seven consecutive losing seasons—a trend that the team aims to reverse this year.
Last Thursday, the Broncos missed an opportunity to cement a playoff spot when they squandered a valuable double-digit lead in a 34-27 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite head coach Sean Payton emphasizing the need to “Run It!!” on his play sheet, the Broncos only ran the ball 14 times following a successful opening drive touchdown, in which four running backs collectively managed seven carries for 43 yards, capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Audric Estime.
With rain in the forecast for Sunday’s game and the formidable duo of Burrow and Chase looming on the opposite side of the field, the Broncos are likely to adopt a more run-heavy strategy.
