The Broncos couldn’t have asked for a better time for their best defensive players to step up.
With a playoff berth in the balance on the road in late December against a high-powered Cincinnati offense, Zach Allen tormented quarterback Joe Burrow to the tune of 3.5 sacks and eight pressures. He was in on sacking Burrow on five different occasions and got the star quarterback to the ground on back-to-back snaps in overtime.
Cornerback Pat Surtain II, meanwhile, shut down All-Pro receiver Ja’Marr Chase in a performance that likely solidified his eventual NFL Defensive Player of the Year selection.