Zack Moss overcomes adversity en route to Bills win
Sometimes in sports, things work out rather poetically.
After last week’s loss to the Steelers, Bills running back Zack Moss, posted to Twitter, “control your controllables…” a clear reference to being made a healthy scratch prior to the game.
Things, however, got tougher for the RB before they got better.
Moss shared after the Bills’ 35-0 throttling of the Dolphins, that he had a long week after traveling down to Florida early to bury his Aunt. She recently passed away.
“I just wanted to come out here and play,” Moss told the media after the game.
Upon leaving Hard Rock Stadium, Moss took to his social media account on Twitter once again. He sent a message about his recent difficulties, those both on and off the field:
Just had to bury my aunt yesterday morning, play a game today that I fumbled in & then turn around and help my team win with 2 TDs! Life is all about ups and downs, only thing that matters is how you respond to those challenges.
— ZMO (@PresMoss2) September 19, 2021
As referenced, Moss fumbled the ball in the first quarter and many wondered if he’d see his way back into the game. His teammates still had confidence in him, at least.
Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins told reporters that despite the miscue, Moss never lost faith in himself.
“He told me, ‘Next time I get this ball I’m gonna make it count,” Dawkins said.
That he did. Moss responded by scoring two touchdowns in the second half that helped the Bills put away their divisional opponent. Bills head coach Sean McDermott talked about Moss’s resiliency and how the team can learn from his performance.
“I thought it was important that he was able to reset and remain mentally tough, comeback,” McDermott said. “He made some really tough runs, particularly that lost one at the end on the touchdown. That’s a great message to anyone and everyone on our football team that you’re going to make some mistakes, but you gotta be able to comeback and get your game back. That’s what your teammates need from you.”
Moss was able to sum up what this whirlwind of a week has been like.
“It’s life,” Moss said. “It’s going from having ups to downs, in 24 hours. I’m thankful to be able to play this game.”
The Bills scoring 35 points is nothing new for the offense under quarterback Josh Allen. What is new is the fact the 21 of those came from the backfield on the team.
One criticism the Bills received often last season and again during their Week 1 loss was their inability to establish the run. Thanks in part to a big bounce-back game by Moss, the Bills did just that.
