Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga spoke while wearing sunglasses in the locker room, drawing attention there just as he did on the field in Week 9 against the Houston Texans, and he delivered an emphatic statement about his team.
The Broncos beat the Texans 18-15, and their defense did a lot of the heavy lifting, keeping their hosts out of the end zone all day.
The performance left Hufanga feeling a sense of pride and duty to keep the team focused.
Talanoa Hufanga Praises Broncos
GettyTalanoa Hufanga #9 of the Denver Broncos warm up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Hufanga finished the Broncos’ win with 9 total tackles and 2 pass deflections. He nearly had a pair of interceptions, but they fell to the turf. The Broncos, tied for the NFL’s best record at 7-2, have more work to do.
Hufanga evoked shades of the late Kobe Bryant, saying the Broncos’ job is “not even close” to done, adding that they “got a lot more to do.”
Still, the Broncos’ overall effort that left the 2022 First Team All-Pro impressed with his team.
Specifically, Hufanga loved seeing how his team was flying around defensively against the Texans. The Broncos held to Texans to 0-7 on plays within 10 yards of the goal line, drawing strong remarks from head coach DeMeco Ryans.
“I was just proud of my guys, man,” Hufanga told reporters on November 2. It’s part of this testament to them. It’s part of the process, man, we go out there, and we just fly around like coaches preach. Run and effort every time you’re out there. And so for me, it was just, if I don’t run, you’re going to be that slow one on the film. So, just proud of the guys to get out a win.”
Talanoa Hufanga Echoes Sean Payton
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks to his team during a game against the Houston Texans.
The Broncos were making their swift reactions count, and they have built up the confidence to withstand opposing surges.
“We got to take the field confident, too. Not in cockiness. It’s because we’re prepared. And so, we go out there, and regardless of the situation, wherever the ball’s put on the ground, we got to play the football. And so, I think it was early on in the game, they had the goal line stand that we had. Forced them to a fourth down penalty. And that was just a testament to the guys that, regardless of where the ball’s at, they didn’t get the end zone today,” Hufanga said.
“It don’t matter [that they get yards]. We gotta get the job done. And so, give our offense a chance, make sure points are – points matter. It’s a 4-point play right there, you know what I mean? And so, if we can keep them out of the end zone, we’re holding on to 4 points, and it comes down, it mattered in the game, right? We come back, and we get a 2-point conversion, ties it up, and that’s just all we needed. We just need the points right there. Because if we give up a touchdown, that’s 4 points, and we’re not kicking the game-winning field goal right now.”
Broncos head coach Sean Payton touted his team’s dominance in the trenches and said their goal-line stand was “significant.”
Hufanga said the Broncos are “learning how to win.”
“Regardless of the situation, like I said, man, when we put the ball down, it’s not a mindset of they might get some on a certain thing. It’s how can we get the ball back defensively? How can we score offensively?” Hufanga asserted. “That’s how we’re learning how to win.
“Show up, and go out there and make the play that’s made for you. And so, I’m just proud to have a defense that’s willing to go out there and put their helmet in the pile, and get dirty. And when it’s time to make a play, we do it.”
Talanoa Hufanga Praised After Praying Over C.J. Stroud
GettyKris Abrams-Draine #31 of the Denver Broncos tackles C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans.
Hufanga drew attention for non-football reasons, too, taking a knee and praying over Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was concussed after hitting his head on the turf during a tackle by Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine.
Stroud’s mother updated after the game that her son was “ok,” but the Broncos star’s gesture spoke volumes while the contest still hung in the balance.
Fans praised the veteran for his show of support in the moment.
Hufanga signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Broncos in free agency after earning a reputation as an energetic, hard-hitting safety and Pro Bowl honors with the San Francisco 49ers. He has lived up to that billing and proven his leadership with the Broncos so far.
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