The Denver Broncos lost a tough game against the Los Angeles Chargers last week when they couldn't finish despite holding a 20-13 lead late in the fourth quarter. However, if you took to social media after the game, many fans were pointing the finger of blame at No. 21... Riley Moss.
Broncos Country feels like Moss is struggling at cornerback because so many passes are being completed against him, but he's in a very good position the majority of the time and quarterbacks and wide receivers around the league are just making better plays. On top of that, teams are targetting him early and often as they stay away from the side Pat Surtain II is on.
That is going to continue to happen, and with the Cincinnati Bengals coming to town in Week 4, it brings to the forefront what was probably the worst game of his career to this point.
Last season, the Bengals and Broncos met in late December in Cincinnati in a game that went to overtime. Tee Higgins caught 11 passes in that game for 131 yards and three huge touchdowns. Every time the Bengals needed a play, Joe Burrow looked for Higgins, who was being shadowed by Moss.
Riley Moss has been targeted 27 times (2nd-most in NFL) this season and has allowed only 12 receptions, fewer than any other player with 20+ targets
— SleeperBroncos (@SleeperBroncos) September 26, 2025
Moss has allowed an average of 2.6 yards of separation in coverage, the 2nd-tightest coverage in the NFL (min. 50 snaps) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UcUyJxdNF5
Higgins unanimously got the best of that matchup and it should have left a bad taste in the mouth of Moss. The Bengals, coming off a 38-point drubbing in Minnesota last week, have no doubt watched film and will look to take advantage of Moss again, who they may feel may be lacking confidence at this time.
Moss needs to be ready to step up and be better in this game. It won't be Burrow throwing the passes but instead, Jake Browning will be the quarterback. Last week against the Vikings, Higgins made just one catch, so he's not coming in on any kind of a hot streak. Last year, he caught eight passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Cleveland Browns the week before facing Denver, so he had some momentum.
Moss will have those things working in his favor. Up until that Week 17 game last season, most would have said that he had played quite solid all season. If that was the game that started to trend him downwards, perhaps that same opponent can be the one to turn him back around?
Moss will be the biggest x-factor in this Week 4 game on Monday Night Football for these reasons. Surtain will likely go up against Ja'Marr Chase for the most part in this game and if Burrow is not the one throwing passes to Chase, that is a matchup that heavily favors the Broncos. That will leave Moss on the other side with Higgins in a rematch of sorts and this time, Moss needs to be up to the challenge.
READ: Are Broncos having any buyer's remorse from free-agent signings?
Recently, I discussed the team needing to be patient before making a switch at cornerback with Jahdae Barron in favor of Moss. This game could go a long way towards that decision.
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