An NFL team simply cannot be scared. If a team lets one defender take half the field away, the offense is limited, and defeat might have already been admitted. The Indianapolis Colts refused to do this against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, though.
Instead, quarterback Daniel Jones and head coach Shane Steichen ran the offense they wanted to run, and it didn't matter where cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, was lined up for the Denver Broncos. If Jones was planning on tossing a ball somewhere, he did so.
Against the Colts, Surtain allowed seven completions when he had primary coverage. That was the most he had allowed in a single game since Week 4 of the 2022 season. Teams are mostly afraid to throw toward Surtain, but impressively and confidently, the Colts were not.
Indianapolis Colts were not afraid to expose Broncos All-Pro Patrick Surtain II
Overall, Surtain gave up seven catches on nine targets for 63 yards. He was also called for two penalties, but one was not accepted. To be fair to the cornerback, he played strong run support and was in on 10 tackles, but he gets paid to play shutdown coverage, and the Colts did not let him.
Indy receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was the most effective against Surtain. He caught all three of his passes when the Broncos' corner was tasked with covering him, and two of the catches went for first downs. Alec Pierce caught both of his targets when Surtain was trying to stop him, and both went for first downs.
This is meant as no disrespect toward Patrick Surtain II. He is obviously a great player, and if he wanted to come play for the Indianapolis Colts, then general manager Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen would love to have him. But Surtain is human, too, and Indy proved that.
No Denver defender was targeted more by the Indianapolis Colts, and no defender allowed more catches. That said, fellow cornerback Riley Moss was exposed even more. He allowed six catches on eight targets for 90 yards and a touchdown.
One might wonder how these numbers would have changed had the Colts been starting Anthony Richardson instead of Daniel Jones. Indy is 2-0 for many reasons, and Jones is a big one. With Richardson as QB1, Indianapolis would likely be 1-1 at best and facing a doomed season. Jones has changed that outlook.