Every NFL team has a few guys that do the dirty work, and when it comes to the hard-hitting Denver Broncos defense, cornerback Riley Moss is definitely one of them. That’s not usually something you say about a cornerback, but Moss has the special task of playing opposite reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. 

That means Moss gets to see a lot of action. Opposing teams avoid throwing to the receiver Surtain is covering, which means Moss has to be on his game every week. 

“I think he’s got the hardest job on our defense weekly,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said this week in an article written by Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. “Pat’s a great player, the No. 1 corner in football. So most of the concepts and most of the scheme from offense is going toward Riley.”

This week the Dallas Cowboys’ concepts will revolve around star receiver George Pickens, who likes to talk trash. Moss knows he could be a target of the receiver’s verbal barbs, but the Denver cornerback isn’t one of those guys who gets into that kind of back and forth. 

“I’m sure there’ll be some chatter, and I love that because it goes in one of my ears and out the other,” said Moss, the third-year Broncos cornerback.

Moss has done more than hold up under that kind of pressure. According to Next Generation Stats, he’s been targeted 45 times, with is fifth most in the NFL going into the Dallas game. The Broncos have carefully assessed his performance, though, and coach Sean Payton likes what he’s seen so far. 

“(He’s) playing outstanding,” Payton said about the review. “All the numbers suggest it.”

The specific numbers are impressive. Moss has held opposing quarterbacks to a 73.0 passer rating, which is the lowest mark among the league’s ten-most targeted defenders. He’s also held QBs to a completion rage of just 44.4 percent, and only two other corners have a better rating when it comes to allowing separation. Not surprisingly, one of those two is Surtain. 

Broncos safety Talanoa Hufaanga is new to this defense, but as a player who's been part of some tough 49ers units, he knows talent when he sees is. 

“The guy is just built for football,” Hufanga said of Moss. “He’s one of the most athletic people I’ve ever seen, actually. A lot of people won’t give him that type of credit, but you can truly see the way he gets in and out of his breaks, the ability to high-point the ball and different things like that. I’m excited to be part of a defense with him and am excited to see where his career takes him.”