The Buffalo Bills are 0-5 for the first time since about two weeks before your humble narrator was born (1985). For the first time in my lifetime, I can say that this Bills team is, quite literally, the worst Bills team I've ever seen.
Buffalo's latest loss came at home at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who dominated offensively en route to a 36-26 victory. David Garrard threw three touchdown passes, the Jags gained 216 rushing yards as a team, and Pittsford native Adam Podlesh did not have to punt all day. It's the third straight game in which the Bills have surrendered 200 or more rushing yards, and the fourth straight game in which they've given up 34 or more points.
The only bright spots defensively were an interception from Andra Davis on Jacksonville's first possession and a fumble recovery by Donte Whitner. Despite winning the turnover battle 3-0, Buffalo's fourth straight horrific defensive performance killed the team's chances of winning a winnable football game. (The Jaguars, let the record show, also dominated in the special teams department.)
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three touchdowns himself, two of them going to Steve Johnson. Buffalo jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, with Davis' interception setting up a field goal following a 45-yard touchdown reception by Lee Evans. Fred Jackson ran the ball well, gaining 73 yards on just 12 carries, but as the game got out of hand and the defense continued to let down, Buffalo was forced once again to abandon the run.
The offense was not blameless in defeat, however, as several penalties in the red zone ruined the Bills' chances of gaining a much bigger lead on the Jags early in the ballgame. Johnson and Roscoe Parrish each were flagged for lining up incorrectly, while Cornell Green had a false start and Demetrius Bell a holding penalty on Jacksonville's one-yard line.
Buffalo has a bye this week. They return to action two weeks from today with a visit to the Baltimore Ravens. Here we come, 0-6.