Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was named a Pro Bowl Games starter for the AFC on Wednesday night for the second season in a row. On Thursday, the former Alabama All-American accepted the Demaryius Thomas Team Most Valuable Player Award as the Denver Broncos’ MVP for the 2023 NFL season, just as he was in 2022. Next week, Surtain will learn if he has repeated as a first-team All-Pro selection.

By that time, the Broncos’ season will be over.

Despite beating the Los Angeles Chargers 16-9 on Sunday, Denver was eliminated from playoff contention. The Broncos will complete their 2023 campaign by visiting the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:25 p.m. CST Sunday. It’s one of the two games on the schedule for the final weekend of the regular season that doesn’t include at least one team headed for the playoffs or one trying to get in.

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But the game is still important to Surtain. Denver has an 8-8 record entering its finale and could finish with a winning mark for the first time since 2016. To do that, the Broncos will have to break a seven-game losing streak to the Raiders.

“The past couple of years we haven’t finished off the season the way we wanted to,” Surtain said. “But to finish the season off strong with a winning record, it will mean a lot for the organization to build off of. …

“They’ve had our number for the past couple of years. It’s something that we look forward to. Obviously, the last game of the year, divisional game – why not end it off the right way?”

Denver couldn’t overcome a 1-5 start to the 2023 season, but Surtain thinks the Broncos’ comeback, which included a five-game winning streak, bodes well for the future. Denver hasn’t been to the playoffs since it won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers 24-10 to cap the 2015 campaign.

“I think we got the right pieces to build towards next year,” Surtain said. “Once we look back on this season, obviously, we can learn from it, correct some mistakes and just focus on that next step into winning more games.”

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Surtain joined Denver as the ninth pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. After Sunday’s game, he’ll be eligible for a contract extension, even though he has a season remaining on his rookie contract.

“I think all that comes at the right time,” Surtain said. “I’m not focused on that right now. I’m just focused on finishing this week off strong and heading into the offseason, just getting better for the team. Obviously, those talks are going to come in the future, but right now I’m just focused on team success.”

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With the Crimson Tide, Surtain won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award and received unanimous All-American recognition in 2020, when undefeated Alabama won the CFP national championship.

In 2021, Surtain made the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team before collecting 2022′s accolades and now his 2023 honors.

“They’re stashed away in the basement at the crib,” Surtain said. “I got a little awards section around. I’m running out of room.”

The Demaryius Thomas Team MVP Award “means the most,” Surtain said, because his teammates voted on the honor.

“To be recognized with such a huge honor, it means a lot,” Surtain said. “I’m very humbled to receive this.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.