Trailing 20-10 late in the third quarter, the Las Vegas Raiders faced a third-and-11 from their own 40 yards. Denver Broncos All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II returned a pick-six for 100 yards in the second quarter, it was reported. Unsurprisingly, Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew looked the other way.

Minshew saw wide receiver Tre Tucker being covered by Riley Moss on the right side of the field, and Minshew took advantage of his chances against the second-year cornerback. But Moss jumped in front of Tucker for his first career interception; It was the last pass Minshew threw that day as he headed to the bench. The Broncos won the Week 5 game 34-18, making it their third straight win.

“I mean, Pat being Pat, he decides who he has to hold. So if you’re a quarterback, you’re going to target the other side,” Moss said. “Of course you are.

“I didn’t know it looked so damn cool.” 😅@R_moss5 describes his first career INT: pic.twitter.com/TEz8QRcnMl

– Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 7, 2024

“It’s part of the job, I fully expected it. Definitely don’t be afraid of it. I kind of wear it on my chin, you know?”

It’s a mindset held by several cornerbacks who share the defensive backfield with an elite teammate. They know they are the No. 2 cornerback on the field, which often makes them the No. 1 target for quarterbacks. But instead of seeing it as being exploited, they see it as a chance to prove themselves.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Moss is the second-leading defenseman with the most targets in the NFL with 78. His target rate of 21% is the third highest for cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps. Surtain was the closest defender with 35 targets and has a target rate of 11%, which is the second lowest.

“If you feel like the ball isn’t coming to you, then you get a little sloppy,” said Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., who starts opposite three-time Pro Bowler Denzel Ward. “And then a team can get ahead of you and play against you.”

“You want to have the mentality like the ball is always coming to you.”

Look for Emerson and Moss to score their share of goals on Monday night when the Broncos take on the Browns (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN). However, Moss did not practice this week due to a knee injury.

Emerson was the next closest defenseman with 57 goals, leading Cleveland and tied for 20th in the league. Because he is targeted more often, Emerson has more than twice as many tackles as Ward (49-20). Emerson also has two tackles for a loss, five passes defended, a forced fumble and a recovery. But the reason NFL executives ranked Ward as the second-best cornerback – behind Surtain – is because, despite not being targeted as often, he has 17 passes defensed, one interception and a forced fumble and recovery.

Ward is in his seventh season after the Browns drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick in 2018. Emerson is in his third after being a third-round pick in 2022. The two train together in Florida in the offseason and a strong bond was forged early.

“I had a really good feeling about him the first time we spoke,” Emerson said. “We were on the phone and I told him, ‘Lead the way,’ and he said, ‘No, bro, we’re standing side by side. We’re in this together. We will both take the lead.’ .’

“I just had tremendous respect for him… From day one, it was always love from him. We got to know each other better and built a bond. He’s definitely a brother and someone I’ll know long after football.

Under Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme, the outside cornerbacks typically stay on one side. On some teams, the top cornerback travels to the side where the top receiver is. Teams can also protect difficult matchups with safety help, but there will be times when the No. 2 cornerback will be tested because the game plan is to target him.

Houston Texans rookie corner Kamari Lassiter, playing alongside Derek Stingley Jr. – ranked No. 10 by NFL managers – recorded his first of three interceptions this season in a Week 2 win against the Chicago Bears. It was a team effort as Caleb Williams was flushed out of the pocket and threw toward tight end Cole Kmet, who was surrounded by three defenders.

“Making a pick is not just a question of him, but also the hustle, the speed of the quarterback and Kamari having really good hands,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “That was also a difficult catch. So it was a really nice move from him.”

“But, man, I give him credit, the kid has been consistent. I talk about it all the time, he’s been consistent, where he needs to be on every single play, and he doesn’t push to make plays. Some guys come to the spot” and they try to apply pressure to make a play and then you end up putting yourself in a bad position. He is always in the right position and he has benefited from being able to make a choice.

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is No. 3 in scoring (16.6 points per game) and yards per game (289.4) and credits the team’s strength at cornerback.

“Obviously Pat is one of the best in the league,” Joseph said. “With Pat’s skill set, you can game plan, but having two other guys that can keep up (Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian) and you can close down the middle and play man or zone without worry, that’s a big deal.

“Most good defenses have corners who can cover. You can close the middle without fear of giving up a big play. That’s half the battle of good defense.”

Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson made headlines for all the wrong reasons in their Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders when he taunted fans while Washington receivers ran downfield for the game-winning Hail Mary. But aside from that fumble that cost him a starting spot the following week, Stevenson gave the Bears several big moments in the game against All-Pro Jaylon Johnson. Stevenson’s pick-six helped the Bears to a season-opening 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

“I look at it as an opportunity and I’m more waiting for it to happen because we all know the ball isn’t going to Jaylon,” Stevenson said. “So this defense just sees me as the guy I am in practice, making plays that come to me, catching the balls that come to me and being able to make sure I put everything back into this defense “Because there’s an All-Pro corner over there doesn’t make me a weak link.

“You can’t just get up and throw it here whenever you want.”

As with Surtain, teams are staying away from Johnson, who was the closest defenseman with 38 goals compared to 55 for Stevenson. Johnson’s target rate is 11%, Stevenson’s is 21%.

Emerson helped the Browns upset the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday by recording a team-high six solo tackles, including one for a loss. That tackling ability will likely be tested again on Monday night.

“You have to be ready for that,” Emerson said, “to accept the challenge and rise to the challenge.”

Contribute: DJ Bien-Aime, Courtney Cronin, Jeff Legwold, Daniel Oyefusi