Broncos star comes to defense of often-penalized teammate

NFL officiating is simply a hot-button contented week-to-week successful the league arsenic fans, players and coaches alike person complained astir the deficiency of consistency successful games oregon important calls made late.

Denver Broncos antiaircraft backmost Riley Moss has been connected the receiving extremity of astir a twelve penalties during the 2025 season, which has outgo the squad 203 yards, according to The Football Database.

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Broncos' Riley Moss is called for walk interference connected a walk to Green Bay Packers' Matthew Golden connected Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, successful Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

On Sunday, Moss was called for a punishment connected Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden. He enactment his near manus connected Golden’s close limb for a divided 2nd portion the shot was successful the air. It was that determination that seemingly drew the flag.

Broncos prima Patrick Surtain II has been Moss’ biggest defender.

"Yeah, I deliberation those calls are beauteous ticky-tacky," Surtain said Wednesday. "I conscionable deliberation there's examples crossed the league wherever different guys are doing the nonstop aforesaid happening and they don't get called for it.

"But astatine the extremity of the day, helium holds his caput precocious and helium moves connected to the adjacent play."

Broncos' Riley Moss celebrates an interception against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, successful Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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Surtain, the reigning Defenisve Player of the Year, besides joked successful October that Moss was being racially profiled by officials amid the rash of penalties against him.

Broncos caput manager Sean Payton has been conscionable arsenic upset arsenic everyone else.

"Look, helium continues to compete," Payton said. "I can't accidental the word, but it begins with an ‘A’ comparative to that call. It's just... beatified cow. And it's thing that's frustrating I'm definite for him. But he'll support competing. He's tough, came backmost with a large interception. You know, the 1 successful New York was brutal. But he'll support competing. We've got to get amended wide astatine seeing and being accordant officiating those calls."

Moss has 65 tackles and 15 walk breakups this season.

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The Broncos volition instrumentality connected the Jacksonville Jaguars successful a Week 16 matchup astatine home.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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