What Was Your Favorite End of Season Loss That Was Soul Crushing

[WMDman]

04 PITT

[Talley56]

The obvious one was the loss to the Steelers in 04 but I’ll also add in a “write-in candidate”: I wasn’t sure if this would qualify as we weren’t in the playoff race but 12/4/05 @ Miami.  We we up by 3 TDs and I believe we could have been up by more but we blew some chances on some turnovers near the goal line.  The Dolphins come back in the 4th quarter and Sage Rosenfels beats us on a last second TD pass 24-23.

[stevewin]

3 hours ago, RyanC883 said:

2004 game v. Steelers.  Steelers "backups" (a lot of whom become the core of the Steelers SB win a few years later) beat the Bills in a meaningless win for the Steelers.  Was the worst loss, esp. at the time.  And esp. since I was watching it with Steeler fans. 

I was driving back to NC with the family after being in Buffalo for the holidays, and ironically stopped and watched the game at an Applebees just outside on Pitt on the way home.  Was a very long silent 8 hr drive in the car the rest of the way - Daddy was not happy.

[dollars 2 donuts]

3 hours ago, corta765 said:

After yesterday's disaster of a loss that made you want to go crazy I wanted to do a therapeutic look at other times we have collapsed brilliantly. The Bills have created an incredible habit of losing games in late November/December that are utterly soul crushing, frustrating to the point you want to throw your TV, OR both at the same point. Here is a fun recap of some tremendous losses going back to 2010:

 

Nov 28th 2010: Steelers 19-16 OT over Bills. The famous Stevie "Why God" Drop game that I am still seeing a therapist to this day about. Seriously it was awful.

Nov 27th 2011: Jets 28-24 over Bills. Stevie drop 2.0 as Fitz hits him in the hands in a must win game to keep their playoff chances alive and he drops it. Also was the game he got a 15 yard PF for being a Jet and crashing

Jan 1st 2011: Pats 49-21 over Bills. Buffalo race out to a 21-0 lead over their hated rivals giving Bills fans some comfort to finally beat NE hard in their own building...Only to only 49 unanswered points. This wasn't madding as much as just pure embarrassing.

Dec 9th 2012: Rams 15-12 over Bills. Similar to the previous two weeks the Bills hold a slim lead and the defense blows it after playing shutdown throughout the game. In this game Buffalo had slim playoff hopes if they won and allowed Sam Bradford who went just 19/39 to go 84 yards after holding the Rams all day to win. The Bills preceded to get blown out by Seattle the next week up in Seattle effectively ending Chan Gailey's coaching tenure.

Dec 1st 2013: Falcons 34-31 OT over Bills. The last game mercifully in the Toronto series ends in utter heartache making you want to throw you TV after the Bills blow a 14-0 lead, 31-24 lead in the 4th, Stevie Johnson fumbles on the game winning drive on the ATL 30 when they were in FG range with 28 seconds left tied, and then Scott Chandler fumbles on the second play of overtime at mid field to give ATL the ball who scores on a FG. The definition of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Dec 21st 2014: Raiders 26-24 over Bills . A week after a massive upset of the Packers to go to 8-6 and be solid positioning for the playoffs the Bills lose to a crappy Raiders team in Oakland. The Bills defense got hit with injuries, but the game swinging play happens on 3rd & 22 at Oakland's 19 when Corey Graham goes for the INT instead of batting the ball away from recent Bills Andre Holmes who gets a 51 yard completion and putting the Raiders in FG range. The Bills can't stop the Raiders who score a TD ending the Bills playoff hopes. This was a massive let down after such a huge high the week before.

Nov 29th 2015: Chiefs 30-22 over Bills. The Jaguar game early the season was worse but this game was also pretty bad and fits the criteria. Buffalo blows a 10-0 lead and 16-7 lead in the first half to fall behind 24-16 in the 3rd. The Bills offense after lighting it up with Sammy Watkins in the 1st half stops for some reason throwing to him and the Bills defense can't stop a beachball allowing 7 consecutive drives where the Chiefs score or miss a FG after the Bills go up 10-0.

Dec 13th 2015: Eagles 23-20 over Bills . Bills playoff chances die despite out-gaining the Eagles 412-348 and controlling the clock for nearly 10 mins more. Buffalo was the better team but like yesterday too many mistakes kill them.

Dec 24th 2016: Dolphins 34-31 OT over Bills. The famous Rex punt game which the Bills had to win to keep their playoff chances alive. This ruined Xmas eve for many families as the Bills punt on 4th and 2 on at mid field and then allow J. Ajayi to go 57 yards with just 10 men on the field. Making things even worse before this the Bills rallied hard after being down 14-0 and take the lead 31-28 with only 1:20 left when Miami's Andrew Franks hits a 55 yard FG in the weather. Two Dan Carpenter FG's cost the Bills a chance for victory.

Editors Note **2017 the Bills somehow make the playoffs and win all of these insanely close games that make you pull your hair out. That happened**

2018: Back to back weeks the offense gives the defense the lead and the defense blows it. Take you pick for which was more frustrating, for me the Jets was worse because of how long the team had the lead and the fact the defense wilted so badly in the clutch.

 

 

 

 

 

My nuts hurt thinking about these.

[reddogblitz]

1 hour ago, The_Dude said:

Wide Right.

 

Wide Right is right.

[LSHMEAB]

2 hours ago, Joe in Winslow said:

Self-flagellation. There's no redemptive quality in this.

 

But yes, 2004 was the worst.  It was such a craptacular end to a season.

 

It wouldn't have been quite as gut wrenching if everything didn't go our way in terms of the other teams vying for a WC spot. I think we needed help and got it, but I'm not 100 sure as I'd prefer to forget that game.

 

Just brutal and fitting.

[NoHuddleKelly12]

What a trail of tears. Thanks for posting this on a Monday, which I now have a case of. 

 

 

[Steve O]

3 hours ago, RyanC883 said:

2004 game v. Steelers.  Steelers "backups" (a lot of whom become the core of the Steelers SB win a few years later) beat the Bills in a meaningless win for the Steelers.  Was the worst loss, esp. at the time.  And esp. since I was watching it with Steeler fans. 

I was thinking the same game. It was actually played Jan 2, 2005. Happy friggin new years, microcosm of things to come. Losing to XFL MVP Tommy Maddox and the rest of the Steeler's second string. Remember being in the Hammer lot listening to the OT victory of...Saints over Jets I believe, which would have put us in the playoffs. I said to the people I was tailgaiting with that we could be so psyched right now. If there is one consolation for you, Steeler fan had to deal with a 15-1 season followed by a championship game loss at home. Guess that's what is called Karma!

[longtimebillsfan]

January 2, 2005.  The last game of the season with Drew Bledsoe at QB.  We were playing a Steelers team that had clinched home field throughout the playoffs.  they were playing second and third sting players in that game.  If we won that game, we would have gone to the playoffs.  We  lost 29 - 24.  That one hurt

[T master]

Super Bowl 25 end of story !! ?

[Gugny]

3 hours ago, corta765 said:

After yesterday's disaster of a loss that made you want to go crazy I wanted to do a therapeutic look at other times we have collapsed brilliantly. The Bills have created an incredible habit of losing games in late November/December that are utterly soul crushing, frustrating to the point you want to throw your TV, OR both at the same point. Here is a fun recap of some tremendous losses going back to 2010:

 

Nov 28th 2010: Steelers 19-16 OT over Bills. The famous Stevie "Why God" Drop game that I am still seeing a therapist to this day about. Seriously it was awful.

Nov 27th 2011: Jets 28-24 over Bills. Stevie drop 2.0 as Fitz hits him in the hands in a must win game to keep their playoff chances alive and he drops it. Also was the game he got a 15 yard PF for being a Jet and crashing

Jan 1st 2011: Pats 49-21 over Bills. Buffalo race out to a 21-0 lead over their hated rivals giving Bills fans some comfort to finally beat NE hard in their own building...Only to only 49 unanswered points. This wasn't madding as much as just pure embarrassing.

Dec 9th 2012: Rams 15-12 over Bills. Similar to the previous two weeks the Bills hold a slim lead and the defense blows it after playing shutdown throughout the game. In this game Buffalo had slim playoff hopes if they won and allowed Sam Bradford who went just 19/39 to go 84 yards after holding the Rams all day to win. The Bills preceded to get blown out by Seattle the next week up in Seattle effectively ending Chan Gailey's coaching tenure.

Dec 1st 2013: Falcons 34-31 OT over Bills. The last game mercifully in the Toronto series ends in utter heartache making you want to throw you TV after the Bills blow a 14-0 lead, 31-24 lead in the 4th, Stevie Johnson fumbles on the game winning drive on the ATL 30 when they were in FG range with 28 seconds left tied, and then Scott Chandler fumbles on the second play of overtime at mid field to give ATL the ball who scores on a FG. The definition of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Dec 21st 2014: Raiders 26-24 over Bills . A week after a massive upset of the Packers to go to 8-6 and be solid positioning for the playoffs the Bills lose to a crappy Raiders team in Oakland. The Bills defense got hit with injuries, but the game swinging play happens on 3rd & 22 at Oakland's 19 when Corey Graham goes for the INT instead of batting the ball away from recent Bills Andre Holmes who gets a 51 yard completion and putting the Raiders in FG range. The Bills can't stop the Raiders who score a TD ending the Bills playoff hopes. This was a massive let down after such a huge high the week before.

Nov 29th 2015: Chiefs 30-22 over Bills. The Jaguar game early the season was worse but this game was also pretty bad and fits the criteria. Buffalo blows a 10-0 lead and 16-7 lead in the first half to fall behind 24-16 in the 3rd. The Bills offense after lighting it up with Sammy Watkins in the 1st half stops for some reason throwing to him and the Bills defense can't stop a beachball allowing 7 consecutive drives where the Chiefs score or miss a FG after the Bills go up 10-0.

Dec 13th 2015: Eagles 23-20 over Bills . Bills playoff chances die despite out-gaining the Eagles 412-348 and controlling the clock for nearly 10 mins more. Buffalo was the better team but like yesterday too many mistakes kill them.

Dec 24th 2016: Dolphins 34-31 OT over Bills. The famous Rex punt game which the Bills had to win to keep their playoff chances alive. This ruined Xmas eve for many families as the Bills punt on 4th and 2 on at mid field and then allow J. Ajayi to go 57 yards with just 10 men on the field. Making things even worse before this the Bills rallied hard after being down 14-0 and take the lead 31-28 with only 1:20 left when Miami's Andrew Franks hits a 55 yard FG in the weather. Two Dan Carpenter FG's cost the Bills a chance for victory.

Editors Note **2017 the Bills somehow make the playoffs and win all of these insanely close games that make you pull your hair out. That happened**

2018: Back to back weeks the offense gives the defense the lead and the defense blows it. Take you pick for which was more frustrating, for me the Jets was worse because of how long the team had the lead and the fact the defense wilted so badly in the clutch.

 

 

 

 

Oh, how fun!!!!

 

Hang on .... let me give myself papercuts in between my fingers and toes and get into a bathtub full of rubbing alcohol.  Then I'll be able to take this stroll down memory lane.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Favorite??

 

 

[boater]

 

3 hours ago, corta765 said:

therapeutic look at other times we have collapsed brilliantly

 

Theraputic look at losses?

 

Theraputic look at losses does not compute. Buffalo has really wounded your psyche, eh?

 

Win baby!

[Buffalo Barbarian]

3 hours ago, RyanC883 said:

2004 game v. Steelers.  Steelers "backups" (a lot of whom become the core of the Steelers SB win a few years later) beat the Bills in a meaningless win for the Steelers.  Was the worst loss, esp. at the time.  And esp. since I was watching it with Steeler fans. 

 

that was the worst, so pissed!

 

 

[Helpmenow]

1988

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

3 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

How many people in this thread will end up killing themselves?

At the rate we're going, a 'name the victim' thread is inevitable.  Even crueler, but not out of the realm of possibility, is the 'I hope it's ________'

thread.  ?

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

December 7, 2014. When Marrone played way too conservatively in the last two minutes of the game. This was the game where Kyle Orton slid about a yard short of 1st down on 3rd. This may seem like a regular Bills loss to most of you. But this is when I realized, that despite plenty of issues, Kyle Orton was the greatest Bills QB by far of my adult life.  

5 hours ago, corta765 said:

 

Dec 21st 2014: Raiders 26-24 over Bills . A week after a massive upset of the Packers to go to 8-6 and be solid positioning for the playoffs the Bills lose to a crappy Raiders team in Oakland. The Bills defense got hit with injuries, but the game swinging play happens on 3rd & 22 at Oakland's 19 when Corey Graham goes for the INT instead of batting the ball away from recent Bills Andre Holmes who gets a 51 yard completion and putting the Raiders in FG range. The Bills can't stop the Raiders who score a TD ending the Bills playoff hopes. This was a massive let down after such a huge high the week before.

 

 

Why do I somehow remember this game as a blowout? 

[corta765]

1 hour ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

December 7, 2014. When Marrone played way too conservatively in the last two minutes of the game. This was the game where Kyle Orton slid about a yard short of 1st down on 3rd. This may seem like a regular Bills loss to most of you. But this is when I realized, that despite plenty of issues, Kyle Orton was the greatest Bills QB by far of my adult life.  

Why do I somehow remember this game as a blowout? 

 

Your probably thinking of the 2016 game when the Raiders won 38-24 and rolled through Buffalo in the second half

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

1 minute ago, corta765 said:

 

Your probably thinking of the 2016 game when the Raiders won 38-24 and rolled through Buffalo in the second half

Nope. I had to work that day, so I only got to see the highlights. I distinctly remember the letdown from the '14 Raiders loss. Maybe the impact of the game against a much weaker opponent is what made me feel that way. 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

....2004 Steelers......prime opportunity to FINALLY break the playoff schneid against their 3rd stringers......win and you're in....lose and......we did........tee times vs playoffs.............