The Denver Broncos are eagerly anticipating the potential return of cornerback Riley Moss as they chase their first playoff berth since 2015. Moss, a second-year pro, has emerged as a vital cog in the Broncos’ secondary this season. But a recent MCL sprain has sidelined him for three games, and Denver’s pass defense has cratered in his absence.
Before Moss went down in Week 12, the Broncos boasted a top-10 pass defense, allowing just 199.8 yards per game through the air. In the three games since losing their talented young corner, they’ve plummeted to dead last, hemorrhaging nearly 300 passing yards per contest. Blown coverages and gaping holes in the secondary have become all too common.
Moss’s Value Magnified By His Absence
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph didn’t mince words when assessing Moss’s importance, despite the cornerback missing time recently. “He hasn’t played in a few weeks, but he’s had a hell of a year,” Joseph said. It’s become painfully obvious just how much the Broncos rely on Moss’s steadiness, assignment soundness and competitive fire opposite All-Pro corner Pat Surtain II.
Since Moss went down, Denver has surrendered its two highest yardage totals of the season in losses to the Browns and Chargers. Cleveland gashed them for 552 total yards, including 475 through the air, while the Chargers stormed back to win behind 380 yards of offense. In both games, the Broncos gave up over 30 points, something that had only happened once in their first 12 contests.
Coverage Busts Become the Norm
In Weeks 1-12 with a healthy Moss, the Broncos allowed just 4.3 completions of 15+ yards per game, 5th best in the NFL. In the three games without him, that number has skyrocketed to a league-worst 8.0 per game. Receivers have been running free in the Denver secondary with alarming regularity.
“We’ve got to look closely at why these things [are] happening. But five different times, we had free runners, and you can’t have one of their top receivers not covered.”
– Broncos head coach Sean Payton
Veterans like Levi Wallace and youngsters Damarri Mathis and Kris Abrams-Draine have all taken turns in Moss’s spot, with minimal success. Wallace was even benched during the Browns debacle after repeatedly getting torched by Amari Cooper, who finished with 235 yards, the most ever allowed by Denver to one receiver.
Looming Matchup vs Bengals a Huge Test
Now at 9-6, the Broncos likely need just one win in their final two games to punch their playoff ticket. But a Week 17 road date with the high-powered Bengals offense is a daunting challenge, especially for a depleted secondary.
Cincinnati leads the NFL in passing, with Joe Burrow and his trio of dynamic wideouts – Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas. Chase alone could be a matchup nightmare for Denver. The All-Pro is in line for the receiving triple crown, leading the league in catches, yards and TDs. He’s particularly lethal after the catch, something that has plagued the Broncos of late.
“[Chase] is gifted. A lot of his yards come after the catch. The main thing is what happens in the second act.”
– Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II
Moss’s Status Looms Large
The Broncos play man coverage at the 3rd highest rate in the NFL. Even with Surtain potentially tracking Chase, there will be times the Bengals scheme their star receiver away from him. How Denver’s other corners hold up in those moments could very well decide their playoff fate.
“We have to do the right things right. Hone in on the details. Mistakes aren’t on the offense, mistakes are us. We’ve seen it.”
– Pat Surtain II
Which makes Moss’s availability that much more crucial. The young corner was a full practice participant to start the week, a very encouraging sign for his potential return Saturday. If Moss can play effectively, it would go a long way towards solidifying a Denver secondary that has looked lost without him.
With their postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the Broncos are hoping Riley Moss can be the stabilizing force that helps carry them back to the playoffs. For a franchise that has endured a seven-year postseason drought, his value has never been more apparent.
