Renck: Broncos need to think big, follow Pat Surtain II’s lead if they want to topple Chiefs

Pat Surtain II walks into the interview, sits in the first chair, and smiles.

He makes a living making receivers uncomfortable, so I figure I will return the favor. All I have to do is ask Surtain to talk about himself and the likelihood he will win NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors next week.

Then something surprising happens. He sheds his humility, clearly aware of the magnitude of this accomplishment.

“It was a goal of mine. I always think big. Obviously, this is something I expected, but I didn’t expect it so soon,” Surtain said of an honor won only once before by a Bronco, linebacker Randy Gradishar in 1978. “You know, I think it is a credit to the work I put in and the season I had. I think if I get it, I deserve it.”

This is exactly the attitude the Broncos need from their best player. He was already the most talented, and now he is developing a razor’s edge. Follow in these footsteps, Broncos. You don’t need to turn heel, but stepping on a few chests is required to dethrone Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes is the villain. He will soon appear in his fifth Super Bowl in six years. Surtain is two questions into this one-on-one interview and has no interest in excuses. And that’s perfect because Broncos Country is not in the mood. Not with Mahomes and Travis Kelce in more commercials than the Manning brothers, their excellence rubbed in our faces like sandpaper.

“You just realize that being close is not enough,” Surtain said of the Chiefs. “They are the standard right now. When you look at their team, it’s basically been the same over the last few years. Obviously, they add pieces, but their prominent guys are there: Mahomes, Kelce, those guys. Their defense has been key to their success and an underrated part of their team. I think in order to beat a team like that we have to continue to create winning habits, too. We have to do that consistently. If you want to beat them year in and year out — and that is the goal — then there is no margin for error.”

Upending the Refs, I mean Chiefs, seems preposterous, until you realize the Broncos are 2-2 against Kansas City the past two seasons. Nobody is saying the Broncos are better than Kansas City. But Surtain’s words reflect a growing confidence that they can beat them. It helps that they have a serious quarterback in Bo Nix. He passed up a Pro Bowl berth, preferring not to disrupt his offseason routine so he could go undergo a minor medical procedure Wednesday.

It’s not like Surtain needed another reason to believe in Nix. Or where he can lead them.

“He got this year under his belt and most importantly he won games. He knows how to perform at a high level. I think that’s big for him and his success moving forward,” Surtain said. “Not only does he have all the intangibles, but he has the right character, the right mindset to go win games in the future and take us to the promised land.”

Nix has toughness, intelligence, work ethic — all qualities Surtain generously showcases. What separates him from the other 52 players on the roster is his skill set. His speed, range and long levers bring receivers’ limitations into sharp focus.

Plus, he is not afraid to let them know it with a little chatter as he has gotten older, not afraid to get into the mud. It certainly wasn’t an issue Tuesday in an interview promoted by Tide Evo detergent tiles, available only in Colorado.

“Heck yeah, I do my own laundry,” Surtain said.

Surtain is defined by looking fresh and clean on and off the field. As the Broncos mature, all eyes will be on him. Their play, their personality must model his evolution.

There is every reason to think Surtain will maintain his level of play with the Broncos defense all but returning in full. Turns out, Surtain can be used for something other than turning off the lights on one side of the field. With a lethal pass rush and reliable corner Riley Moss on the opposite side of the field, Vance Joseph proved it.

And Surtain loved it.

“His whole scheme was set up well with his personnel. And we were able to run a variation of coverages with zone pressures and simulated pressures and stuff like that. And obviously our pass rush and front seven were very dominant this year so that helped. In the back end, it allowed us to be more aggressive in the pass game. I don’t think the personnel fit in 2023 on how he wanted to run it, but last year fit perfectly,” Surtain said. “We obviously have more work to do, but it was a great start.”

Surtain belongs to the past. He conjures memories of Champ Bailey, Darrelle Revis and Ty Law — his favorite players growing up. When Surtain’s career is over, none of them will be better than him.

Already a dedicated student, Surtain said he received a PhD in film study and how to apply it to the game from former teammates Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson.