Riley Moss’ first NFL interception happened so fast he didn’t know what to do.
The Broncos’ second-year cornerback picked off a Gardner Minshew pass 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 tackled for no gain but got up and ran all the way to the far end zone to celebrate with teammates.
“I honestly didn’t even know what to do,’’ Moss said. “I was kind of in shock. You expect to make those plays but at the same time it happened so fast. I definitely got to work on my celebration.”
Nevertheless, Moss sure liked getting his first interception.
“It is something you dream about, and 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 that had been successfully run against him in each of the first four games.
“I got hit on the same route the past four weeks, stutter go, and this time I looked back for the ball,’’ Moss said. “I was in better position, and I trusted myself and just make the play.”
Moss said he will frame the ball from the interception and put it in his basement.
The Broncos had two other interceptions in the game, both by cornerback Pat Surtain II. One was returned 100 yards for a touchdown to tie the score 10-10 midway through the second quarter.
While Surtain was thrilled with his interceptions, he also liked the one Moss got regardless of what happened afterward.
“I think he gets a pass on the celebration,’’ Surtain said. “I think he was pretty excited and didn’t know what to do. … He’s consistent each and every week and he prepares the right way and eventually he was going to make a play like that, and I’m very happy for him. It’s crazy because a lot of people were questioning what the white cornerback was going to do, but he’s definitely making history.”
Williams again steps up
The first three games this season for Broncos running back Javonte Williams were ugly. The last two have been solid.
“I don’t think I went anywhere,’’ Williams said when asked if he is back. “I’ve been 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 rushed 24 times for 52 yards for a meager average of 2.2 yards per carry. In the past two games, Williams has carried 29 times for 138 yards for an average of 4.8 per carry.
Williams had 13 carries for 61 yards against the Raiders while also catching five passes for 50 yards. That gave him 111 yards from scrimmage.
“The O-line did a great job, the receivers just blocked on the perimeter,’’ Williams said of his running. “(Quarterback) Bo (Nix) made some big throws, so that’s going to open up the run game.”
Williams rushed for 903 yards as a rookie in 2021 before suffering a serious season-ending knee injury in October 2022. He heard talk early in the season that perhaps he wasn’t the same player after his injury.
“I’ve been hearing all that,’’ Williams said. “So, I just had to let them know.”
Breaking the streak
The Broncos ended a 16-game losing streak last year to AFC West rival Kansas City. On Sunday, they ended an eight-game skid to the division foe Raiders.
The streak started when the Raiders moved to Las Vegas for the 2020 season. Denver guard Quinn Meinerz had played in the last six losses of it.
“I know that’s been the talk of this whole week,’’ Meinerz said of the media discussing the streak. “This is a new team, new year. It feels great to get our first win in this division."
Broncos second-year coach Sean Payton also downplayed the end of the streak.
“The Raiders thing, not so much (was it talked about to the team),’’ Payton said. “We understand that it is a division game, and it was an important game for us.”
Briefly
Broncos right tackle Alex Palczewski was lost for game in the third quarter with an ankle injury and replaced by Matt Peart. NFL Media reported Palczewski suffered a high ankle sprain and X-rays were negative. Also in the third, Garett Bolles was shaken up and left for one play and rookie Frank Crum got his first NFL play from scrimmage. ... After tight end Greg Dulcich had just five catches for 28 yards in the first four games, including no catches in the previous two, he was made inactive Sunday in favor of Lucas Krull, who had one catch for five yards in the first action of the 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, inactive for the first four games, made his debut but played only on special teams. … Receiver Josh Reynolds called it “awesome” scoring 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.
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