Broncos' Riley Moss liked first pick, not celebration | Sports reporting

Riley Moss' first NFL interception happened so quickly that he didn't know what to do.

The Broncos' second-year cornerback picked off a pass from Gardner Minshew in the third quarter of their 34-18 win over Las Vegas on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. He caught the ball at the Denver 37 and was unsuccessfully tackled, but got up and ran to the back of the end zone to celebrate with his teammates.

“Honestly, I didn’t even know what to do,” Moss said. “I was kind of shocked. You expect to make those plays, but at the same time it happened so quickly. I definitely need to work on my celebration.”

Still, Moss definitely liked the first interception.

“It’s what you dream about and it’s what I’ve been working towards,” he said.

The interception came on a pass intended for Raiders receiver Tre Tucker. Moss said it was on a route he ran successfully in each of the first four games.

“I got hit on the same route the last four weeks, stuttered once, and this time I looked back for the ball,” Moss said. “I was in a better position, trusted myself and just played the game.”

Moss said he would frame the ball from the interception and put it in his basement.

The Broncos had two more interceptions in the game, both by cornerback Pat Surtain II. Midway through the second quarter, one of them was returned 100 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 10-10.

While Surtain loved his interceptions, he also enjoyed Moss's, regardless of what happened afterward.

“I think he’s missing out on the celebration,” Surtain said. “I think he was pretty upset and didn't know what to do. … He's consistent every week and prepares the right way, and in the end he wanted to do something like that and I'm really happy for him. It’s crazy because a lot of people asked what the white cornerback was going to do, but he’s definitely making history.”

Williams competes again

The first three games of this season for Broncos running back Javonte Williams have been ugly. The last two were solid.

“I don’t think I’ve gone anywhere,” Williams said when asked if he was back. “I was in Denver the whole time. If you want to say I’m back, you can say I’m back.”

In the first three games, Williams ran 24 times for 52 yards, a meager average of 2.2 yards per carry. Over the last two games, Williams has completed 29 carries for 138 yards, averaging 4.8 per carry.

Williams had 13 carries for 61 yards against the Raiders and also caught five passes for 50 yards. That put him 111 yards from the point of attack.

“The O-line did a great job, the receivers just blocked at the rim,” Williams said of his run. “(Quarterback) Bo (Nix) made some big throws, that will open up the running game.”

As a rookie in 2021, Williams rushed for 903 yards before suffering a season-ending serious knee injury in October 2022. At the start of the season, he heard rumors that he might not be the same player after his injury.

“I heard all that,” Williams said. “So I just had to let them know.”

Break the streak

The Broncos ended a 16-game losing streak against AFC West rival Kansas City last year. On Sunday, they completed an eight-game losing streak against division foe Raiders.

The streak began when the Raiders moved to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. Denver guard Quinn Meinerz has been part of the last six losses.

“I know that's been the topic all week,” Meinerz said of the media discussing the series. “This is a new team, new year. It feels great to get our first win in this division.”

Second-year Broncos coach Sean Payton also downplayed the end of the series.

“The Raiders thing, not so much (was discussed with the team),” Payton said. “We understand it’s a divisional game and it was an important game for us.”

Meager

After tight end Greg Dulcich had just five catches for 28 yards in the first four games, including no catches in the previous two games, he was made inactive on Sunday in favor of Lucas Krull, who had a catcher for five yards in the game's first action had season. Also inactive for the Broncos were wide receiver Devaughn Vele, defensive lineman Eyimoa Uwazurike, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine and emergency quarterback Zach Wilson. … Rookie running back Blake Watson, who was inactive for the first four games, made his debut but played only on special teams. … Broncos right tackle Alex Palczewski was sidelined in the third quarter with an ankle injury and was replaced by Matt Peart. Also in the third, Garett Bolles was shaken up and had to make a play, and rookie Frank Crum got his first NFL play from scrimmage. … Receiver Josh Reynolds called it “amazing” when he scored his first Denver touchdown on a 9-yard grab from Nix in the fourth quarter. … Receiver Marvin Mims Jr. caught just one pass for seven yards but had a 17-yard run and a 38-yard punt return.