What are the top three worst losses in franchise history?

[VaMilBill]

I wanted to take a survey of all you Bills fans to get an idea of what was the top three worst losses in franchise history for you as a fan. When I say worst, i mean it should take into account all factors including how painful, how unexpected, how consequential, etc. the loss was. 

 

I wanted to canvass and get a baseline for how painful this past loss was in terms of Bills misery. 
 

for me, I’m 30 years old so I didn’t really become a bills fan until the Losman years. I know about the 89 loss to the browns in the playoffs as well as wide right and music city miracle. 
 

In my opinion, since I’ve been a fan, the worst losses have been:

 

1) 2022, Bills vs Chiefs loss in divisional round of the playoffs. We all know what was on the line. Win, and we had a good shot to win the SB.  Not only that, but we protect the legacy of the 90’s Bills by ensuring KC doesn’t get to another SB and threaten 4 in a row. If KC gets 4, then it is more impressive because of the SB win they have. In addition, the way we lost was absurd and really will leave a taint on this franchise and team for at least the next 5 years, minimum. 
 

2) 2007: Bills lose to Dallas 25-24. Bills were huge underdogs in this game. It was the first MNF game Buffalo was hosting since 1994. Dallas was playing lights out all season. None of us expected the Bills to win. The defense and ST played lights out, Trent was meh, and we found ourselves in great position near the end. Then we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and Dallas recovered an onside kick and Nick Folk kicks the winner. I’ve always despised Nick Folk since then. 
 

3) 2009. Bills lose to Patriots on MNF 25-24. This one stung because again, Bills were big dogs. Tom Brady was still fresh off of his torn ACL recovery and a lot of us was hoping he would never be the same. Bills had been rocking all night. Aaron Schobel had the pick six. Defense had two 4th down stuffs. Then McKelvin, inexplicably returns the ball out of the end zone and fumbles. Couple of plays later Patriots score and we lose. Painful. 
 

honorable mention is the Pittsburgh loss where Stevie blamed God. That sucked because Pittsburgh was so good and we sucked. But Fitz was beginning to earn our love. 
 

Curious to hear what the old timers think. 

[Success]

I hate these threads - but get them.

 

It's easy for me:  wide right, MCM, 13 seconds.  In that order.

 

Gotta be playoff games. Dallas MNF was brutal, but inconsequential.  The 3 I named are all potential - and even somewhat probable - Lombardi's.

 

 

[JaCrispy]

Wide Right, 13 Seconds, and Music City Miracle- in that order...

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

I tell ya…(funny just talking about this game in another post)

 

Super Bowl 27

Cowboys - 52

Bills -17

 

I was 10 years old.  I had went to the Greatest Comeback Game Just a few weeks prior.

 

Bills were making history in epic fashion as a Wild Card Team…and doing it with Kelly Injured.

 

I bought in to “Team of Destiny” based on how that playoff season went.  It was MEANT TO BE.

 

And then to show up at the Rose Bowl…and just get Slaughtered like that.  Pulverized AND Kelly got hurt again.

 

that whole magical playoff run to end in that way was just horrible.  They didn’t even belong on the same field with Dallas that day.

 

You knew…everyone knew…they owned the Bills and they were helpless to do anything.

 

😞

Edited January 26, 2022 by RalphWilson'sNewWar

[elijah]

As a younger guy (23), the first game I remember watching was the 2004 loss to Pittsburgh and I honestly don’t really remember the actual game, I just remember the act of watching it. 2007 Dallas I wasn’t fully emotionally invested quite yet to have the heartbreak from the game but at that point was at least watching the entirety of the games and understanding what was happening. That being said .. 

 

1.) 13 Seconds 

2.) WC @ Houston (2019)

3.) Hail Murray

4.) Loss to 2-12 Raiders following upsetting GB at home, effectively killing the hope of the end of the drought 

5.) Stevie Johnson dropped OT catch vs Pitt

6.) Bucs OT loss this year 

7.) Charles Clay drop @ Miami during Josh’s rookie year 

 

Not a lot of terrible losses during the drought years as there was quite honestly nothing at stake and never any expectations 

Edited January 26, 2022 by elijah

[hondo in seattle]

Pick three of the Super Bowls at random.  

[Bubba Gump]

10 minutes ago, JaCrispy said:

Wide Right, 13 Seconds, and Music City Miracle- in that order...

 

Exactly what I think.

[Patrick Duffy]

11 minutes ago, JaCrispy said:

Wide Right, 13 Seconds, and Music City Miracle- in that order...

Same for me

[Royale with Cheese]

12 minutes ago, JaCrispy said:

Wide Right, 13 Seconds, and Music City Miracle- in that order...

 

Yep.

6 minutes ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

I tell ya…(funny just talking about this game in another post)

 

Super Bowl 27

Cowboys - 52

Bills -17

 

I was 10 years old.  I had went to the Greatest Comeback Game Just a few weeks prior.

 

Bills were making history in epic fashion as a Wild Card Team…and doing it with Kelly Injured.

 

I bought in to “Team of Destiny” based on how that playoff season went.  It was MEANT TO BE.

 

And then to show up at the Rose Bowl…and just get Slaughtered like that.  Pulverized AND Kelly got hurt again.

 

that whole magical playoff run to end in that way was just horrible.  They didn’t even belong on the same field with Dallas that day.

 

You knew…everyone knew…they owned the Bills and they were helpless to do anything.

 

😞

 

I believe they scored on their first drive from scrimmage and had a 7-0 lead early.  Then the world collapsed.  

[billsfan714]

Older person here:

 

Wide right, 13 seconds, MSM.   I dont get how anyone would have MSM ahead of this one.  MSM was a wild card card, Rob Johnson at QB, that team was never going to win the superbowl.   I got over that pretty quick and still dont think it was forward.   Wide right and 13 seconds, those are superbowls slipping through your fingers.

6 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

Yep.

 

I believe they scored on their first drive from scrimmage and had a 7-0 lead early.  Then the world collapsed.  

Yeah didnt Tasker block a punt, and then they wheels absolutely came off, had hope for about 8 minutes.

[BullBuchanan]

This doesn't even make my short list. It was a great game played by great teams. We lost and that sucks, but we didn't get the rug pulled out from under us by external forces or collapse in on ourselves. We just lost.

The MNF game to Dallas felt worse. Stevie Johnson drop against the Steelers felt worse. Losing against the Steelers backups and launching the career of Willie Parker felt worse. Watching our 5-1 season slip away was worse. MCM and Wide Right were WAY worse.

[Royale with Cheese]

2 minutes ago, billsfan714 said:

Yeah didnt Tasker block a punt, and then they wheels absolutely came off, had hope for about 8 minutes.

 

Yeah, I actually think he did.  So long ago.

[billsfan714]

3 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

This doesn't even make my short list. It was a great game played by great teams. We lost and that sucks, but we didn't get the rug pulled out from under us by external forces or collapse in on ourselves. We just lost.

The MNF game to Dallas felt worse. Stevie Johnson drop against the Steelers felt worse. Losing against the Steelers backups and launching the career of Willie Parker felt worse. Watching our 5-1 season slip away was worse. MCM and Wide Right were WAY worse.

Not holding a lead with 13 seconds left, kicking off, is not a collapse in on ourselves?

[cwater10]

Wide Right

13 Seconds

1980 Ron Smith Chargers (That crushed me.  Truly believe that would be a Lombardi)

MCM

 

OK, that's four... But these are The Bills and I've been a fan for 50 years.  Limiting to four felt like a nice kind thing to do for myself.  Just for fun and to see who's paying attention, does the name Don Nottingham bring down any night terrors for anyone out there?

Edited January 26, 2022 by cwater10

[HomeskillitMoorman]

4 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

This doesn't even make my short list. It was a great game played by great teams. We lost and that sucks, but we didn't get the rug pulled out from under us by external forces or collapse in on ourselves. We just lost.

The MNF game to Dallas felt worse. Stevie Johnson drop against the Steelers felt worse. Losing against the Steelers backups and launching the career of Willie Parker felt worse. Watching our 5-1 season slip away was worse. MCM and Wide Right were WAY worse.

We had the rug pulled out from underneath us by our own head coach 

Edited January 26, 2022 by HomeskillitMoorman

[BullBuchanan]

Just now, billsfan714 said:

Not holding a lead with 13 seconds left, kicking off, is not a collapse in on ourselves?

not when they just needed a field goal with 3 time outs with an MVP quarterback in a back and forth game.

[ALLEN1QB]

Superbowl 25, 26 , 27, 28 that was easy

[First Round Bust]

they each have a bleeping name:

 

Wide Right, 13 Seconds, and Music City Miracle- in that order...as mentioned previously and I agree and want to vomit...again....

 

Its wonderful being a Bills fan, we are a great fanbase and this team unites us and the city like no other, but goddamn it....

[RalphWilson'sNewWar]

13 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

Yep.

 

I believe they scored on their first drive from scrimmage and had a 7-0 lead early.  Then the world collapsed.  

Tasked partially blocked a punt I think.

then Thurman ran one in.  Unless my memory fails me.  😂.

[billsfan714]

Superbowl 28 we actually had the lead at halftime.   Still never felt confident, knowing what they did to us before.