Broncos cheers, boos: Pat Surtain II must be better, Mike Tomlin is on brand

Two cheers, two boos from the Pittsburgh Steelers' 13-6 win over the Broncos Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High:

CHEERS…

… to Broncos Country. Steelers Nation tried its toughest to take over Denver like it took over Atlanta in Week 1. Not in this house! While Terrible Towels dotted the landscape at Empower Field at Mile High, the visiting team’s presence was nothing like we’ve witnessed at Packers or Vikings games in Denver. One ticketing website suggested Broncos-Steelers was the second-most expensive ticket in the NFL on Sunday — even more incentive to make a quick buck and spend a weekend in the High Country. Instead, Broncos Country stood its ground — as usual.

BOO...

… Patrick Surtain II, who has work to do to validate a $96 million contract extension. Three penalty flags for 50-plus yards — against a Steelers wide receivers group no one will confuse with Hines Ward, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown? Yes, Surtain is Denver’s best player. And on a roster devoid of star power, with great expectations comes great responsibility. The Broncos don’t have enough oomph elsewhere to make up for Surtain’s shaky games. His pass-interference penalty on George Pickens was an obvious call and extended a Steelers drive.

CHEERS…

… to Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, who has the Steelers at 2-0 after two road games with a backup quarterback. Talk about on brand. Tomlin also beat Sean Payton for the first time in four attempts. In a pro sports landscape that emphasizes rings and championships, the concept of consistency is undervalued. Tomlin famously has never endured a losing season as Steelers coach. But the most impressive thing about Tomlin’s M.O. is the identity of his outfit rarely wavers: tough, hard-nosed and competitive as all get-out. Respect, Coach Tomlin.

BOO…

… the Bo Nix supporting cast not named Josh Reynolds. Was it the right call for Sean Payton to call out the quarterback’s supporting cast after a Week 1 loss at Seattle? Eh, it sure felt like scapegoating the game plan. But that’s two games in a row where the so-called playmakers around the rookie dropped the ball. Greg Dulcich dropped two passes in the fourth quarter. Jaleel McLaughlin didn’t have positive rushing yardage until the fourth. Courtland Sutton’s first catch didn’t arrive until 7:55 was left in the third. How about a little help, please?

—Paul Klee, The Denver Gazette