The 2-1 Cincinnati Bengals are traveling to the Mile High City to take on the 1-2 Denver Broncos tonight on Monday Night Football. It’s not the matchup that most would have expected before the season began, because Bengals‘ quarterback Joe Burrow is obviously out and the Broncos have a losing record after making the playoffs last year.
But, there is one battle that will still stir interest and that’s the clash between Bengals’ all-world wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Broncos’ super-stud cornerback Pat Surtain II. They were both top-10 draft picks back in 2021 and both had a similar meteoric rise to superstardom.
Chase is easier to judge because he’s a wide receiver and that is a much more stat-heavy position. He won the Triple Crown of receiving last year with 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. Surtain, on the other hand, can’t really be graded on stats as a cornerback (if you’re that good no one throws anywhere near you), so we have to rely on comments like this from Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
“I’ve never coached, or seen, a player that’s had his physical traits, combined with his football IQ and the work ethic,” Joseph said. “He’s a savant playing the position with the rarest of physical traits.”
That comment is the verbal equivalent of winning the Triple Crown.
Pat Surtain gets praise from all-time great
Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey knows a little bit about playing the cornerback position in the NFL. After being drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft, he played for the Broncos for 10 seasons from 2004-2013. Heck, the guy hauled in 10 interceptions in 2006, way past the time for people to realize you shouldn’t throw it to his side…ever).
Bailey is a ginormous fan of Surtain II (who’s father Patrick Surtain was a stud for 11 seasons with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs).
“That kid wants to be great, and I’ve always said a lot of people say they want to be great but they don’t actually do what it takes to be great,” Bailey said. “He does it on every snap.
“Doesn’t mean as a corner you’re not going to give up catches or big plays — the league is too good — but that young man wants to be great every day and actually works every single day to do that. And with the gifts he has, that’s the rarest combination of all. I love to watch every snap he plays.”
If you aren’t familiar with Surtain’s greatness, these quotes should get you excited for tonight’s showdown with Chase.
Pat Surtain talks about taking on Chase
If Surtain and Chase can’t get up for this Monday night game, then they won’t be getting up for any games. It’s the national spotlight with two guys who many consider to be the best in the NFL at their positions.
What does Surtain see as the challenges of facing Chase?
“The challenge is a bigger receiver, like [Chase], they’re obviously strong, they can get physical and the combination with speed with that physicality, the bigger frame, that can become a nightmare,” Surtain said. “Because they can create space and they have the physicality to keep you away from the ball and then run away from you if they get it.”
Those definitely sound like potential issues. Surtain was then asked what his perfect game would be.
“Maybe like three picks and three touchdowns or something like that,” he said. “A crazy stat line. It’s crazy because I feel like great corners you don’t often see them fill a stat sheet up.”
He’s right; they don’t. Surtain’s greatest stats tonight will be inversely proportional to Chase’s.
Ja’Marr Chase’s Monday Night Date with Surtain II