If anyone can slow down Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, it’s Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
Surtain did it before in 2021 when both were rookies. In that game, Surtain limited Chase to just one catch for 3 yards on four targets, while Joe Burrow threw for only 157 yards.
“That was early in my career. Rookie year? Yeah, it was a good game,” Surtain said. “They came in with a high-striking offense and we knew that we had to eliminate the explosives, eliminate their top threat. Ja’Marr, he’s a great player, one of, if not the best, receivers in the league.”
This weekend, Surtain and the Denver defense will get some help with the expected return of second-year cornerback Riley Moss, who has been out for a month with a sprained MCL.
Moss’s return would allow defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to switch back to mostly man coverage instead of zone coverage. This way, Surtain could focus on defending Chase (108 catches for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns), while Moss would cover Tee Higgins (58 receptions for 727 yards and seven touchdowns).
“They got a lot going on with themselves on the offensive side of the ball, so it’s gonna be a good challenge,” Surtain said. “Trying to eliminate them like how we did that time would be great.”
Slowing down Chase could be crucial for the Broncos (9-6) to eliminate the Bengals (7-8) from playoff contention. Cincinnati needs a win to stay in the race, while the Broncos can clinch their first playoff spot since 2015 with a win or tie on Saturday.
Back in 2021, both the Bengals and Broncos were 7-6 when Surtain and Chase faced off for the first time. Despite Chase having his worst statistical game of his career, the Bengals won 15-10 in Denver and went on to make a Super Bowl run.
The Broncos lost their last three games that season, finishing with a 7-10 record, which marked the end of seven straight losing seasons. They broke that streak this year.
The Broncos missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot last Thursday after blowing a double-digit second-half lead in a 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Although coach Sean Payton had written “Run It!!” in large letters on his play sheet, he only called 14 run plays after the Broncos drove down the field for a touchdown on their opening drive, with four running backs combining for seven carries and 43 yards, capped by Audric Estime’s 3-yard touchdown.
With rain expected on Sunday, the Broncos are likely to run the ball more, as they face Chase and Burrow on the other side.
