Bills: Worst Regular Season Loss Ever?
As most Buffalonians know, the last time the Bills made the playoffs was 1999. Since that fateful playoff loss, the Bills have been through a series of quarterbacks and coaches.
Since that last playoff appearance, the lackluster list of quarterbacks includes Rob Johnson, Doug Flutie, Drew Bledsoe, Kelly Holcomb, JP Losman, and Trent Edwards. Meanwhile, the coaching carousel has included Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey and Dick Jauron. Throughout this decade to remember, the Bills have stepped all over themselves with poor personnel decisions, poor coaching decisions, and poor game day execution.
But the question that wouldn't go away today was - is this the worst ever regular season loss for the Bills.
Let me make the case that it's up there.
First, San Francisco was 3-8 coming into this game. Their three victories include wins over Seattle (2-10), Detroit (0-12), and St. Louis (2-9).
Second, the 49ers offense is ranked 23rd in the NFL. And so is their defense.
Third, San Francisco is playing in Buffalo while West Coast teams are 0-16 this year when traveling to play on the East Coast.
Fourth, the 49ers were starting a quarterback with 8 career starts.
Fifth, the Bills were actually in playoff contention going into this game. With some challenging intra-division games coming up, this was a must-win for the Bills.
Sixth, the Bills were a 7 point favorite, they made 4 trips to the red zone and had 2 drives of 15 or more plays where they ended up scoring zero points.
I can think of some other painful home losses over the past decade - there was the 2004 last regular season game loss to the Steelers to lose a playoff bid and the 2007 opening loss to Denver on last second field goal, but both of those losses were to winning teams.
This loss seems to perfectly embody the past decade of frustration for the Bills organization. The defense was ok but not dominating. Both quarterbacks stunk. The coaching staff was an embarassment and the result was all-too predictable.
The question becomes - now what?
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JAramini
One of the most frustrating losses in recent memory certainly. However, saying the defense was "ok" is really inaccurate. The defense played very well and kept the Bills in the game despite the offense's inability to do anything.
The Niners are averaging 304 yds per game. They only put up 195 yds today. Also averaging 21 points. Only 10 today. Some of that you could perhaps attribute to the weather rather than strong defensive play, but I think beyond a couple dumb penalties, there is no fault to be found with how the defense played.
I've never had my fandom tested quite like this. The organization seems so... off. They're not building towards something, they're spinning their wheels. This coach and offensive coordinator are not the answers. This quarterback may or may not be the answer. This season is a loss though. I shudder to think what the upcoming games against real teams are going to look like.
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meanoldman
maybe the bills should try playing hockey!!
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Bufago
The Buffalo Bills are blessed by their fans. I was at the game today all comfy in the TW Box and as I looked out the window at the "fans" below my first thought was: dang fool idiots, getting rained on, dang fool Bills losing again! Sure half of the crowd has no idea where they are, as they stagger in blind drunk from the parking lots and the other half maybe only therapy can help but I tell you this, as a Buffalo transplant, you move this team and it dies. The Buffalo Fans are its life blood, pure and simple, who the fu%$ else would put up with the cold rain, the misery, the drunken fire roasted stained compatriots to whatch a bunch of over paid brats lose time after time? Bills Fans, man. Bills fans plain and simple. Ralph should be paying Buffalo to host these losers.
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wingking
I say - move the Bills to Toronto. If you want to cheer for them on TV, great. And then lets move the UB Bulls out to The Ralph and charge $10 a ticket, so that families can bring their kids to family college atmosphere and fill up our county stadium. Make the Bulls program as big as a Ohio or Michigan State. Sorry folks, the NFL doesn't want you and our fans can't compete with NY, Dallas or Chicago.We are not a corporate town - we are a college town. We Are Marshall.
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kooksapalooza
I say you clearly dont know anything about college football; if you think having a team like Ohio state or Michigan can in any way be associated with a family environment or $10 tickets
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Dan
The Bills play with a genuine, real authenticity that those cheering on such soulless, corporate teams as the Cowboys and Cardinals can only dream of. Besides, other football teams lose games too; it's not just the Bills. We don't need victories to know how great the Bills are. Also, you can get from the parking lot at Ralph Wilson Stadium to your seat in only 20 minutes, while it takes up to an hour in many other cities.
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eliotspitzer
Dan - don't you bore yourself with that same old routine? You bore the rest of us.
I understand you think your insightful critique of pro-Buffalo culture reveals your brilliance, but it doesn't for a couple reasons. One, every old-school Northeastern city backer says the same shit about their city - Chicago is authentic, Boston is genuine, New York is the original while 'new' cities are phony, soulless, etc. This is not unique to Buffalo backers; it's commonplace mindless boosterism. And two, it's all you ever type. Spare us.
You're showing yourself to be as stupid as the morons who tout Buffalo as authentic, genuine, and soulful special place.
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styler
Wingking, make UB like Ohio State and Michigan? Sounds more like, "let them eat cake."
The Bills are our most visible cultural resource. Anyone see the beautiful pictures of Buffalo-Niagara broadcast to the nation during our monday night game? They were not only awesome, but they accomplished more in 4 hours than this site has accomplished in (insert # of years in existence here).
No offense, BRO, but I just don't get the BRO channel on basic cable here in NYC. You guys are great.
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styler
Wingking, make UB like Ohio State and Michigan? Sounds more like, "let them eat cake."
The Bills are our most visible cultural resource. Anyone see the beautiful pictures of Buffalo-Niagara broadcast to the nation during our monday night game? They were not only awesome, but they accomplished more in 4 hours than this site has accomplished in (insert # of years in existence here).
No offense, BRO, but I just don't get the BRO channel on basic cable here in NYC. You guys are great.
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ryanelguiri
How can you make a UB program like OSU if you play 1 hr from the campus?
You just can't create tradition. Making tickets $10 does not guarentee people in the games. OSU games are huge because when you go there for orientation, you are literally brainwashed about what to believe. You automatically hate Michigan, like anything Scarlet and Grey. It's just the feel of the University, the way everyone behaves.
I went there, and I also went to UB. I sat through orientations at both schools. The orientation at OSU I've never been so pumped up in my life about college, the atmosphere, the games, everything.
UB's I left after about 2 hours when the tour guide told everyone that the Bulls played in the MAAC.
Have you ever been to OSU? The Shoe is literally right in the middle of campus, and campus is right in the middle of Columbus. You are just driving down the street and literally all of the sudden you are smack in the middle of it.
And yes, OSU games can be family friendly, but the 100 year old lady singing 'We don't give a damn about the whole state of Michigan' does put things into perspective.
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sonyactivision
In Toronto, this performance would have been deemed a success, as if any of those Chablis-swilling canadians would even notice the score or anything else besides their theatre plans.
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gaustad
Its all coaching. It is up to the coach to pull these guys together and win. There is plenty of talent on this team; no more excuses.
Painful, all divisions rivals lost today, Buffalo should be close to the top spot.
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jamesbflo
Don't believe the hype. Rabid fans are not exlusive to Buffalo. Football Sunday is an American cultural phenomenon. Millions across the country tailgate, get plastered, and act out of control every sunday. It's just what we do. Buffalo participates but doesnt set any standards as they've been set decades ago by who knows whom.
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al-alo
hey compared to the Nike Rebellion, Bills fans are sedate . . .
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flyguy
Throw in Billy Joe Holbert into the mix of Qbs as well.
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flyguy
And Todd Collins too.
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d_a_n
1. personally, i would have to put the season finale against the stillers (sic) a few years ago as being a worse regular season loss - the bills lose to essentially their 2nd and 3rd stringers and miss the playoffs because of it. however, this is up there. the defense played fine - they really only allowed one scoring drive, as the late field goal the 49ers scored was largely because of great field position. the offense, both in play calling and execution was a joke, with the exception of marshawn lynch.
2. while there are rabid football fans everywhere, the bills have remained relatively affordable over the years - my rockpile tickets are $30 a game. contrasting this with ticket prices in many other nfl cities, and buffalo remains one of the few places where the common man can get season tickets and not have to take out a mortgage, which gives bills home games a substantially different feel than most other nfl stadiums.
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ToughintheStreets
I think this one is first with the Steelers game a close second. A lot of those "2nd stringers" in the steelers game were guys like Willie Parker who now make big contributions as starters on the steelers.
Can't argue with affordabilitiy of the games. Although if tacking on another $100 to the price of my season tickets keeps the Bills a little bit more financially viable I'm ok with that. I would only ask in return that the organization actually start making a good faith effort to aquire talented players and personnel and attempt to make a serious playoff run. They've been nothing but empty talk the past few years.
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gaustad
stadium blows, we have a 90 yr old owner, too much uncertainty on weather the team will stay or leave.
In addition, we have not had a real coach since Marv Levy.
All of these factors contribute to a lack of morale.
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NewBuffalo
The team needs a quarterback BADLY........Let jim kelly in the game, he looked ready on the sideline at the cleveland game. PLEASE DO NOT LET EDWARDS START ANYMORE! Should have picked up FARVE, we would be in 1st place.
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icecreamsub
I think we're still in good shape to make the playoffs....79, 000+ people can't be wrong......see you on "hemp hill" at halftime
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Dan
> Dan - don't you bore yourself with that same old routine? You bore the rest of us.
I guess you speak for the entire site, huh? And, also, I guess you didn't read my postings previous to this one, which dealt mainly with St. Gerard's, or the ones before it. Only a very small percentage of my posts deal with the BRO boosterism cliches some spout out.
Stop being a genuine, authentic, and real Buffalo-style asshole.
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meanoldman
the stadium- the owner-the coaching-the weather-the media -the injuries-the recruiting, what really matters is THE TEAM SUCKS!!! losers are losers any way you look at it. enough excuses" fans" the bills just can't hang with the real talent in the NFL. just for the record, the bandits are the only championship team in buffalo.
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WholeLottaJibbaJabbah
I can't believe it, but I completely agree with everything Gaustad has to say. It is all about the coaching staff. The only coach I can respect on this team is Bobby April because of his consistency. He's always in the top 5 for special teams. Perry Fewell & Turk Schonert had me saying yes, they finally are coaching like the NYG, Steelers & Patriots. They were aggressive and they went 4-1. Now the lack of consistency has me questioning their decision making. Dick Jauron shows absolutely no passion. The team has the talent, it just lacks consistency and execution and the right head coach..... And Trent Checkwards isn't there just yet.... RUN THE BALL we have a TWO HEADED MONSTER BACK THERE!
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meanoldman
the dictionary definition of LOSER!-see buffalo sports franchises.
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sonyactivision
Oh grow up you big babies! The Bills had a great start to the season and lost their bottle when they got whacked by Arizona. Yeah we need a solid quarterback, yeah we need to plug those holes in the defense,yeah, the coaching staff has to go, but for a team from a smaller market that has a very doubtful future, the Bills are about what you'd expect. Get. Over. It.
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