Official Catharsis by Masochism Thread

[JDG]

The story of the Bills since our last playoff appearance…

 

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 complete 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 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 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 2:21 left. 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 in Green Bay.

 

2004 SEASON

 

01/02/05 - STEELERS 29 BILLS 24 - In a home game to secure a playoff birth, the Steelers played their backups, and 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 Chad Morton takes the opening kickoff of overtime for a touchdown, his second kickoff return for a TD of the day.

 

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 - 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

[JDG]

And I have to say -

 

There is nothing more infuriating that seeing a team *settle* for a really long field goal with the game on the line. 47 yards against the wind! What - a few more yards couldn't have helped us there?

 

I am so mad that I could spit!

[slyng1]

Thanks for that trip down memory lane... Wallowing is so much fun...

[justnzane]

:censored: :wallbash:

[Sisyphean Bills]

Memories of the modern era.

[murra]

Each and every one of those games makes me feel like I may have seen the best team of all-time at being the worst clutch team in the history of sports.

[Chalkie Gerzowski]

The decade of suckitude.

 

[TheChimp]

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, 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, 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.

 

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 forego the 43 yard field goal attempt due to wind.

 

These two games caught my eye, in particular. Same coach. He trusted JP and not Trent. Weird, huh.

[JDG]

Yeah, those two games caught my eye too. I seem to remember that the wind in the Titans game was even worse - but I could be wrong.

 

The bottom line though, is I don't believe that it is about trusting JP and not Trent. I think the coaches do trust Trent. I also think that Lindell has gotten better since then, and they have more trust in him. I think the coaches just didn't think it through - didn't think through how risky the field goal, and also didn't think through that we couldn't run out the clock anyways.

[bizell]

don't forget reggie corner completely missing brady quinn on the unblocked corner blitz :banghead:

[Catholic Guilt]

JDG,

 

Please add this gem under 2005 season.

 

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. 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 offensive futility.

[dib]

Deja' Vu all over again

[JDG]

JDG,

 

Please add this gem under 2005 season.

 

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. 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 offensive futility.

 

Oh yeah, that one definitely deserves to be on the list... the game that forced us to bench Losman.

 

I'd also point out that that Saints team ultimately finished 3-13, and went on to lose the very next week by a score of 52-3 in Green Bay.

 

When I did this last year, there were a number of other additions, but I couldn't find those in the Stadium Wall Archives....

 

JDG

[zow2]

Thank you , great thread. I was trying to talk about all this heartache in my post earlier todau but was not going to do all the research. People forget all the crazy things that have happened over the past decade to rip our collective hearts out. Also, wasn't the JAX win in 2004 on a force out? I think it was....and that rule has since been recinded thus making that loss something that wouldn't have happened today, argh! that loss was huge.

[Catholic Guilt]

I kept some of your updated list JDG.

 

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.