Pat Surtain's 100-yard interception return was an NFL Defensive Player of the Year moment | Paul Klee

Pat Surtain, century man.

And the Broncos' superstar so far is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

With the Broncos’ season at 2-2 and already at a fork in the road, "PS2" said, “Gimme that!” He ripped away the controller and turned Empower Field at Mile High into his very own video game.

Is it possible for a single play to change the course of a 17-game season?

Thanks to Surtain’s 100-yard interception return, the Broncos beat the Raiders 34-18 Sunday.

NFL awards voters should take note: PS2's performance is Example A why he should be the frontrunner for the top defensive honor in the league. He plays a position that rarely wins awards, but he’s so impactful that calling him a shutdown corner is doing the man a disservice.

It took only one snap for Surtain to change the course of a franchise’s season.

The Raiders led 10-3 and were knocking on the door of 17-3 when Gardner Minshew tossed a pass toward the end zone. Not in my house, Surtain said. And Mile High is PS2’s house.

Surtain leapt and intercepted the football, his right foot landing directly on the goal line. The only thing that could’ve stopped Surtain was a penalty flag that had been dropped behind him.

No way, he thought, right along with 72,800 Broncomaniacs.

“I didn’t know if it’s rigged, or if someone had a parlay on the game,” Surtain joked after.

The officiating crew picked up the flag.

Good call.

“I was worried. I was scared,” Surtain said. “And I was tired.”

Next Gen Stats reported Surtain reached a top speed of 20.92 MPH in covering the length of the field, making him the first player this season to eclipse 20 MPH on a pick-6.

“It was at least a 10-point play for us,” said Broncos coach Sean Payton, considering the Raiders were about to kick a field goal.

Anyone else get Champ Bailey vibes?

It was 2005 when Bailey picked off Tom Brady and raced 100 yards — until he lost the ball at the Patriots’ 1-yard line. Sunday, Bailey joked with a friend: “The only difference was Pat scored.”

Champ and Pat exchanged jerseys before kickoff.

“That jersey swap was legendary,” Surtain said. “That’s something I’ve always wanted to have in the inventory.”

Mile High felt like the good ol’ days on Sunday. The 1977 Orange Crush got its flowers at halftime, with cornerback Steve Foley and tight end Riley Odoms going into the Ring of Fame.

And Broncos Country’s long, regional nightmare is over. The eight-game losing streak to the Raiders is kaput.

But you want to know the best part of an orange-and-blue party that was long overdue? The current Broncos seemed to appreciate the bond they’d built with a cast of Broncos greats on an October afternoon to remember.

“When the legends come through,” Surtain said, “We want to put out a good impression.”

Only one interception return in Broncos history has been longer than Surtain’s century mark.

In 2017, with the “No Fly Zone” still soaring high, Aqib Talib dashed 103 yards against the Dallas Cowboys. At the end of his sprint, Talib jumped into the South Stands for a group hug.

“I wanted to run all the way up in the stands and get a hot dog,” Talib told me after.

Surtain simply jogged back to the Broncos sideline. Ho, hum.

Surtain is more understated than Talib. (Isn’t everyone?) PS2 is the calm and the storm.

But Surtain’s real impact goes beyond the two interceptions he secured against the Raiders.

He’s brought real belief to a Broncos defense that knows it comes into the game with the best player on the field. Five starts into his NFL career, cornerback Riley Moss recorded his first interception. Moss credits Surtain for his mentorship. Surtain-Moss is the Broncos' best cornerback tandem since Talib-Chris Harris Jr.

“A lot of people were questioning the white cornerback (Moss) and what he’s going to do,” said Surtain, who combined with Moss for three interceptions.

The Broncos' defense is why the team sits at 3-2 with winnable games against the Los Angeles Chargers (2-2), Saints (2-2) and Panthers (1-4) next. It’s allowed only 14.6 points per game.

And Surtain has been a wet blanket on the hottest wide receivers from the opposing team.

—Week 1 vs. Seattle’s DK Metcalf: three catches (on 24 routes) for 29 yards.

—Week 2 vs. Pittsburgh’s George Pickens: one catch (on 11 routes) for 16 yards.

—Week 3 vs. Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans: one catch (on 24 routes) for 8 yards.

—Week 4 vs. the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson: two catches (on 28 routes) for 22 yards.

—Week 5: 100-yard interception return… and another interception for giggles.

The last cornerback to win Defensive Player of the Year was Stephen Gilmore of the New England Patriots in 2019. Before that? Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers in 2009.

Ask the Broncos, and PS2’s got next.