Denver — As Pat Surtain II was about to sign a huge contract extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, coach Sean Payton said he wanted to see more from his superstar.
Like more takeout.
Surtain delivered a pair of interceptions in the Denver Broncos’ 34-18 rout of the injury-riddled Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
He returned his first touchdown for a 100-yard touchdown that erased an early 10-0 deficit, and his second as the Broncos (3-2) snapped an eight-game skid against the Raiders (2-3). It set up another touchdown.
“We had a bad start, but we bounced back,” Denver coach Sean Payton said.
In a big way, it’s all thanks to Surtain’s big day.
It began with a jersey exchange with Hall of Fame linebacker and Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey, who took part in the Broncos’ Alumni Weekend and Throwback festivities honoring the franchise’s first Super Bowl team in 1977, led by the “Orange Crush” conductor . Randy Gradishar.
“That jersey exchange was legendary,” Surtain said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to have in my inventory.”
With games like this.
Not only did the signs, field and scoreboard feature a throwback vibe, but so did Denver’s stout defense, which held the rushing Raiders to just five yards after halftime.
The Raiders scored on Brock Bowers’ 57-yard touchdown catch and Daniel Carlson’s 40-yard field goal and threatened to take a 17-3 lead when Gardner Minshew, who completed his first nine passes for 115 yards, rolled left first. And five times on goal, Bowers was open.
His pitch sailed over Bowers’ head and Surtain caught it at his own goal line and took off toward the Denver sideline.
The only Raider with a chance to block the turnaround touchdown was Minshew, but he was bowled 35 yards downfield by rookie linebacker Jonah Ellis, allowing Surtain to hold the ball high and run into the end zone.
“I caught the ball and I saw green grass all over my head and I thought, ‘Okay, that’s a touchdown,’” Surtain said.
But the moment he turned around in the end zone and saw the flag, his heart sank.
“I was worried. I was scared. And I was tired.” Surtain’s concerns were quickly allayed when the referee ruled there was no foul on the return.
“It definitely shook up the game,” Minshew said. “And obviously I can’t put my team in a bad position. That swing was definitely on me. … I thought we got off to a good start, but I killed our momentum with the pick-six.”
Freshman Bo Nix, who came away with a win over the Jets despite throwing for just 60 yards, had a breakout day with a pair of TD throws after coming into the game with just one TD throw. He also ran for a score as Denver scored 34 unanswered points.
Nix, who completed passes to a franchise-record 11 different players, finished 19 of 27 for 206 yards, two TDs and no interceptions as the Broncos secured their first win over the Raiders since Dec. 29, 2019.
First-year starter Riley Moss also intercepted Minshew, his first career interception a week after his first career fumble recovery and two weeks after his first forced fumble in his two years as a pro.
Minshew’s day is over.
He was replaced by Aidan O’Connell and Las Vegas fell behind 20-10. Minshaw, who missed superstar Davante Adams (hamstring) for the second straight week, completed his first nine passes for 115 yards and 12 of 17 for 137 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and two sacks.
His 10th ball went the other way 100 yards, the second-longest interception return in team history behind Aqib Talib’s 103-yarder against Dallas in 2017.
“It was definitely a big momentum swing,” said Raiders star defensive back Maxx Crosby, who had a pair of sacks despite a sore ankle. “As a defense, as a unit, we talked about being the engine. So, regardless of the situation, we must be able to respond. But yeah, we didn’t do enough. We will get better.”
O’Connell went 10 of 20 for 94 yards and an interception. Surtain intercepted O’Connell’s first pass of the second series and gave the ball back to Nix at the Las Vegas 39 shortly after the rookie QB’s 1-yard keeper made it 27-10, and Nix immediately hit Josh Reynolds for a 9-yard score. .
“We got short fields,” Nix said, crediting Denver’s defense on a day when the Broncos’ offense converted just three of 12 third downs.
Adams was one of five Raiders injured this week, and the Raiders’ offense may have a harder time breaking out of that funk as Adams made it clear this week that he wants to play for another organization.
The Broncos took a 13-10 lead at halftime on Wil Lutz’s 44-yard field goal with no time remaining. This was again after he went wide left from 59 yards. However, Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson was whistled for a 15-yard personal foul on a run over the long snapper, giving Lutz his second try.
Raiders DT Christian Wilkins was also injured, but did not play in the second half with a foot injury. … Broncos C Matt Wattenberg left in the fourth quarter with an unspecified injury. … RT Alex Palczewski (ankle) was replaced by Matt Peart in the second half. Palczewski started in place of Mike McGlinchey (knee).
Raiders: Host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Broncos: Host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
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