Top 10 Bills Stunning Losses

[drnykterstein]

what happened in 2000 that caused the start of this curse we are under?

[Sisyphean Bills]

what happened in 2000 that caused the start of this curse we are under?

Ralph wouldn't pay to have his servers Y2K'd.

[schoharie]

The PAts loss in 99 where the interferance call was made on the jump ball as time ran out was a killer.

I do not recall another NFL game ever with pass interferance called on that play. The Bledsoe to Coats TD to win the game was an "untimed down " with the clock at 0:00. That hurt!

[John Gianelli]

what happened in 2000 that caused the start of this curse we are under?

 

My fault. I was in Mexico on a service trip with a group of students from our university. We were staying in a parish, and instead of going with the group to visit the sick, I went to the rectory to watch the Bills-Titans playoff game on international cable. When we lost, I swore I would give up being a football fan. And I said that to the group when they got back later that day.

 

I broke my promise to God and to them. All Bills fans have been punished as a result, and we haven't made the playoffs since.

 

Sorry.

[Sisyphean Bills]

2009 SEASON

 

09/14/09 - PATRIOTS 25 BILLS 24 - The Bills shouldn't have had much of a

chance in this one, starting essentially three rookies on the offensive

line, having fired offensive coordinator just one week earlier, and going

into a hostile Foxboro environment with a no-huddle offense that hadn't

worked all preseason. Oh yes, and its Tom Brady's first game back from last

year's knee injury. Instead, the Bills lead almost the whole game, thanks to

an Aaron Schobel interception return for a touchdown. Up 4 points with 11

minutes left, Trent Edwards and Fred Jackson engineer a six minute TD drive

to take an 11 point lead. And then an all-too familiar tale occurs. Brady

hits Bet Watson for a TD with 2:10 left, but fail the 2-pt conversion. On

the ensuing kickoff, Leodis McKelvin inexplicably fails to take a touchback

- even with the non-return "hands" team on the field, and proceeds to fumble

the ball for the second time of the day. Three plays later its

Brady-to-Watson again. The 2-pointer fails again, but with 50 seconds left,

Edwards hits Owens for a big gain before the O-line falls completely apart.

 

2008 SEASON

 

11/18/08 – BROWNS 29 BILLS 27 – The Bills overcome four turnovers, including

three Trent Edwards’ interceptions thanks to Marshawn Lynch’s first 100 yard

rushing day of the season (119 yards rushing and 1 TD, 10 catches for 58

yards receiving and 1 TD). McKelvin returns his first kickoff for a TD,

and the Bills average a whopping 35 yards on seven returns. The Bills trail

most of the game, and finally take a one point lead with 2:35 left. On the

ensuing drive, Reggie Corner completely misses Brady Quinn after being

unblocked on a blitz, Leodis McKelvin drops a difficult interception, and

Phil Dawson kicks a 56-yarder with the wind with 1:44 left. The Bills

drive down the field, but upon reaching the Cleveland 34 with one minute

left, inexplicably run three times – for minimal gain. The ensuing 47 yard

field goal against the wind is wide right.

 

2007 SEASON

 

10/08/07 - COWBOYS 25 BILLS 24 - Bills turn over Tony Romo 6 times, return 2

INTs and a kickoff for touchdowns, stop a last-ditch two point conversion,

and then lose when Dallas recovers an onsides kick with 20 seconds left and

kicks a 50+ yard field goal with two seconds left

 

09/09/07 - BRONCOS 15 BILLS 14 - In a game in which the Bills never trailed,

they lose on a "fire drill" field goal with one second left.

 

2006 SEASON

 

12/24/06 - TITANS 30 BILLS 20 - In Orchard Park, Vince Young runs wild, the

Titans kick a field goal with 2:10 left to take a one point lead. The game

ends when JP Losman throwing an INT on 4th and 5 from the Tennessee 28 yard

line with one minute left, after the Bills inexplicably forego the 43 yard

field goal attempt due to wind.

 

12/12/06 - COLTS 17 BILLS 16 - Down one to the Colts in Indy, Rian Lindell

misses a 41 yard field with 6:30 left. Peyton Manning never gives the Bills

the ball back and runs out the clock.

 

09/10/06 - PATRIOTS 19 BILLS 17 - On the road to open the season, the Bills

return a Brady INT for a TD on first play of game, and lead for most of the

game. Then the Patriots take the lead on a *safety* by sacking Losman with

six minutes left. After the free kick, Donte Whitner records an INT on the

first play. The Bills proceed to go three-and-out from their own 44, punt

with 6:20 to go and never see the ball again.

 

2005 SEASON

 

01/01/06 - JETS 30 BILLS 26 - In a meaningless game at home, the Jets score

on a Kelly Holcomb INT for a TD and then take the lead with a Justin Miller

KR for a TD with 6 minutes left. Holcomb takes Bills to the Jets 34 with 3

minutes left before being sacked on 4th and 10. Holcomb then throws an INT

on the desperation drive with 50 seconds left.

 

12/04/05 - DOLPHINS 24 BILLS 23 - In Miami, Lee Evans scores 3 TDs in the

first quarter. Losman only completes one more pass to Lee Evans for the

rest of the game. Chris Chambers catches 15 passes for 238 yards,

including the game-winning TD as Sage Rosenfels in relief for Gus Frerotte

takes the Fish 73 yards with 1:51 left.

 

11/27/05 - PANTHERS 13 BILLS 9 - Bills take a 9-6 lead at home with 5

minutes left. Future Buffalo Bill Michael Gaines scores the GW TD

with 2:21left. With 47 seconds left, on 3rd and 10 from the

Carolina 43, JP Losman throws a game-ending INT.

 

10/30/05 - PATRIOTS 21 BILLS 16 - On the road in Foxboro, the Bills take a

16-7 lead with ten minutes left. The Patriots take just two minutes and

11 seconds to score a TD to pull within two points. On the next drive,

Holcomb fumbles, and the Patriots need just one play to take the lead.

With two minutes left, on 4th and 8 from the from the New England 40, a pass

to Moulds gets no gain.

 

10/02/05 – SAINTS 16 BILLS 7 - In San Antonio, thanks to Hurricane Katrina, New

Orleans kicks a field goal to go up 13 to 7 with 13 second left in the first

half. Terrence McGee returns the ensuing kickoff 82 yards before being

tripped up on a weak tackle attempt at the New Orleans three yard line after

the clock had expired. Late in the game, Willis McGahee is stuffed on 4th

and inches, JP Losman finishes the day 7 of 15 for 75 yards and an INT with

four sacks. Kelly Holcomb adds a lost fumble on 3 of 6 passing for 28 yards

in a day of complete offensive futility. That Saints team would go on to

finish 3-13, and would lose next week to the tune of 52-3 the next

week in Green

Bay.

 

 

 

2004 SEASON

 

01/02/05 - STEELERS 29 BILLS 24 - In their last, best chance for a playoff

berth, the Bills just need to beat the Steelers' backups - at

home. Instead, some guy named Willie Parker ran 19 times for 102 yards.

The Bills never even come close to winning.

 

10/10/04 - JETS 16 BILLS 14 - On the road in New York, the Bills score 14

4th Quarter points to take the lead with 6 minutes left. The Jets' Doug

Brien kicks a 38 yard field goal with 1 minute left. The game ends with

Drew Bledsoe's Hail Mary being intercepted in a game that ultimately cost

the Bills a playoff spot.

 

10/03/04 - PATRIOTS 31 BILLS 17 - At home and down 7 with three minutes

left, the Bills are driving at the New England 17, when Drew Bledsoe is

sacked and the Patriots return the fumble for a TD in a game that ultimately

costs the Bills a playoff spot.

 

09/12/04 - JAGUARS 13 BILLS 10 - At home and up 4 points with two minutes

left, the Bills give the Jaguars get the ball at their own 20 with one time

out. On 4th and Goal from the 7 with four seconds left, Byron Leftwich

hits Ernest Wilford in the back of the end zone - who somehow hangs on to

the GW TD in a game that ultimately cost the Bills a playoff spot.

 

 

 

2003 SEASON

 

12/14/03 - TITANS 28 BILLS 26 - Billy Volek has a big game in Nashville.

Drew Bledsoe hits Mark Campbell for a TD with 26 seconds left, but the

two-point conversion fails and the Titans recover the onsides kick. This

ends the playoff hopes in a season that began with the 31-0 thumping of the

Patriots in the Lawyer Milloy Bowl.

 

11/23/03 - COLTS 17 BILLS 14 - Bills take a 14-3 lead into the 4th quarter

in Orchard Park. The Bills stuff the Colts on three plays after

first-and-goal from the 3. Colts punch it in on 4th and Goal from the 1

with 1:42 left and convert the two-point conversion for a three point

lead. From the Buffalo 46, Drew Bledsoe throws an INT with 42 seconds

left. Their third crushing loss in three weeks, their second at home.

 

11/16/03 - TEXANS 12 BILLS 10 - In Orchard Park, the Texans take a 12-8 lead

with 3:28 left. On the first play after the two minute warning, the Bills

have 1st and 10 from the Houston 31. Drew Bledsoe is sacked and fumbles.

The Texans take an intentional safety to end the game, giving the Bills two

safeties in the game.

 

11/09/03 - COWBOYS 10 BILLS 3 - In Dallas, Quincy Carter takes a four point

lead into the 4th quarter. With four minutes left, the Cowboys' kicker

pooch punts the ball into the end zone from the Buffalo 32 for a 12 yard net

punt. The Bills proceed to go three-and-out, including an own-recovered

Travis Henry fumble. Getting the ball with 2:50 to play, Adrian Murrell

runs the ball down our throats to end the game.

 

09/21/03 - DOLPHINS 17 BILLS 7 - In Miami, the Bills are down 10 to 3 with

6:43 to play. Getting the ball at their own 34, they run for two yards,

have a false start, and a Drew Bledsoe sack. On 3rd and 19, the pass is

incomplete. Miami then rips off a three minute drive, when the Bills

appear to stuff Ricky Williams on 3rd and Goal from the 1 on the first play

after the two minute warning. A booth review is called, and Miami is given

the TD and a 10 point lead. Down 10 with 1:48 to play from their own 20

with one timeout, Drew Bledsoe manages to drive to the Miami 24.

 

2002 SEASON

 

11/17/02 - CHIEFS 17 BILLS 16 - In Kansas City, the Chiefs take a one point

lead with five minutes to go. Five plays later, the Bills have 2nd and 10

at the KC 40 when Drew Bledsoe throws an INT on a deep pass towards the end

zone. The Chiefs take the ball with 4:15 to play and proceed to run out

the clock.

 

09/08/02 - JETS 37 BILLS 31 - The Bills tie the season-opener at home with a

Bledsoe-to-Moulds TD pass with 26 seconds left. They lose in OT as Justin

Miller takes the opening kickoff of overtime for a touchdown.

 

 

 

2001 SEASON

12/16/01 - PATRIOTS 12 BILL 9 - In one of the great ironies of football

history, a Bills team that will finish 3-13 takes a Patriots team that will

win the Super Bowl to the wire at home, ending up holding Tom Brady to 19 of

35 passing. The Patriots tie the game with 2:50 left. Alex Van Pelt

proceeds to lead the Bills on a three-and-out. With 1:50 left, the

Patriots get the ball at their own 13. They get to their own 45 with one

minute left. The Bills sniff out a screen for -2, nearly get an

interception, and finally Schobel sacks Brady to end the threat. With 22

seconds left at their own 16, the Bills unwisely try to make something

happen. Alex Van Pelt fumbles, and the Bills recover to thankfully get to

OT. In OT, the Bills advance to their own 48, and throw an incomplete pass

on 3rd and 2, and punt. With 10 minutes left in OT, the Patriots are at

their own 46 when David Patten catches a pass, is knocked silly by Keion

Carpenter, and fumbles. Nate Clements recovers, and advances the ball into

Patriots territory. On replay review, David Patten’s head rolls out of

bounds while his body is touching the football. By rule, the ball is

out-of-bounds and New England retains possession. Two plays later, NE

kicks the winning FG. Had the Bills won, New England would not have made the

playoffs, Bill Belichick would have been a lifetime .500 football Head

Coach, and the world would have been a very different place.

 

11/25/01 - DOLPHINS 34 BILLS 27 - In Buffalo, the Fish score 24 points in

the 4th Quarter. The Fish score a TD with 4:15 left, and the Bills proceed

to go three-and-out, with an incomplete pass on 2nd down, and a completed

pass short to Larry Centers on third down. Olindo Mare kicks a 39 yarder

with 1:17 left, and Nate Clements fumbles the ensuing kickoff. Three

plays later, the Fish have a seven point lead. Alex Van Pelt gets the ball

with 43 seconds and two timeouts, but is unable to seriously threaten.

 

11/11/01 - PATRIOTS 21 BILLS 11 - Antowain Smith ices the game with a

42-yard TD run with three minutes left.

 

10/28/01 - CHARGERS 27 BILLS 24 - Bills castoff Doug Flutie scores on a GW

13 yard TD run with one minute left.

 

 

 

2000 SEASON

 

12/17/00 - PATRIOTS 13 BILLS 10 (OT) - In Foxboro, the Patriots kick the

game-winner with 19 seconds left in OT. The Patriots finish 5-11, the

Bills finish 8-8.

 

12/11/00 - COLTS 44 BILLS 20 - In Indy, with both teams at 7-6 with three

games left, Wade Phillips says that "both teams are basically out of it."

The Colts win their last three and make the playoffs.

 

10/01/00 - COLTS 18 BILLS 16 - In Buffalo, Mike Vanderjagt hits a 45-yard

gamewinner as time expires.

 

1999 SEASON

 

01/08/00 - TITANS 22 BILLS 16 Music City Miracle and last Buffalo playoff

game.

 

1998 SEASON

 

01/02/99 - DOLPHINS 24 BILLS 17 (PLAYOFFS) - A complicated tiebreaker forces

the Bills to play this game in unseasonably warm weather in Miami. The run

out of gas as the Dolphins end the magical "Flutie Year" in Buffalo. Of

course, by all rights, the game should have been at Ralph Wilson stadium....

 

11/29/98 - PATRIOTS 25 BILLS 21 - In the game at Foxboro that would bring

instant replay back to the NFL, on 4th down, Drew Bledsoe of the Patriots

throws a pass that is caught out-of-bounds and short of the first down

marker. Bills players later report hearing one referee telling the other

"just give it to them." The game was seemingly over when Bledsoe's Hail Mary

to the endzone fell incomplete. The referees, however, called a ticky-tack

pass interference penalty on Buffalo, even though instant replays would show

a Bills defender being mugged by a Patriots WR in the Hail Mary scrum in the

end zone. The Patriots are awarded one untimed play, on which they score the

game-winning TD. In protest, Wade Phillips refuses to contest the extra

point, and the Patriots walk the snap in for an uncontested two point

conversion.

 

09/20/98 - RAMS 34 BILLS 33 - Tony Banks scores on a 2 yard run with 10

seconds left.

[jeffsimon]

Impressive resume!

 

Loss to Pittsburgh's 3rd stringers when a win would have ended the playoff drought belongs on the list, probably before 8 or 9.

 

Sad thing is, I was personally at #s 1,3,5,6,7,8 and the one I just mentioned.

[don_of_manhattan]

1. Wide Right: Giants Super Bowl 1991 (My seat was pretty lousy and I actually thought the kick was good!)

2. Home Run Throwback: Titans Playoffs 2000 (Titans score on forward lateral on kickoff after “winning” touchdown drive by Bills)

3. Harmon's Drop: Cleveland Playoffs 1990 ((Harmon's dropped pass in the end zone on the potentially winning play)

4. New England Nightmare: MNF 2009 (McKelvin fumbles the kickoff with 2:00 left and the Bills up by 5)

5. Dallas Debacle: MNF 2007 (Cowboys recover onside kick and hit 53 yard field goal to win the game)

6. Cleveland Collapse: MNF 2008 (Cleveland makes a 56 yard field goal with a minute left, Buffalo misses a 47 yard field goal at the end of the game)

7. Season Opener 2004 (Jags win on last play, Leftwich to Wilford after Clements should have knocked down an earlier pass and killed the drive)

8. Season Opener 2007 (Elam and the Broncos field goal unit scrambled onto the field to convert a 42-yard attempt just as time ran out)

9. Losman’s Last Laugh 2008 (Bills are running out the clock, Losman fumbles on a bootleg and Jets run it back for winning TD)

10. Fill in the blank

 

 

This is really an impressive list when you think about all the different ways you can blow a game.

 

Go Bills.

This is a good, but the Bills first home playoff loss to the jags in Dec '96 was a pretty bad one as well.