When the Broncos lost Pat Surtain for at least through their bye week, questions arose over how the defense would respond. The Broncos have been arguably the best unit in football this year, but so much of their work hinges on the shoulders of their All-Pro corner. In their 18-15 win over the Houston Texans, it felt as though the Broncos' defense didn't skip a beat.
Sean Payton made it clear that he had hope and confidence in Kris Abrams-Draine to replace Surtain, but no one was quite sure of what to expect. He had filled in for Riley Moss last year, but the Broncos had run with Moss and Surtain for all eight games before the injury against Dallas.