Here's what you knew would happen entering Week 7: the Buffalo Bills lost to the Baltimore Ravens, falling to 0-6 on the season. They are now the NFL's only winless team.
What you may not have expected, however, was the way the loss came about. Behind 505 total yards of offense, including 373 on the right arm of Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills took the Ravens to overtime, before a Shawn Nelson fumble set up a game-winning 38-yard field goal for Billy Cundiff. Baltimore won the game 37-34.
Fitzpatrick became the first Bills quarterback to surpass 300 passing yards in a game since 2006, when J.P. Losman threw for 340 yards in a win over Houston. Lee Evans caught six passes for 105 yards and three of Fitzpatrick's four touchdowns, while Steve Johnson added eight catches for 158 yards and a score. Buffalo quickly found balance offensively and moved the ball at will against Ray Lewis and the Ravens.
The problem, as usual, was the big mistakes. Nursing a 24-13 lead in the second quarter, C.J. Spiller fumbled a kick return; Baltimore recovered, and cut the lead to 24-20 at halftime. After the half, Fitzpatrick threw the first of two interceptions to Ed Reed, and an ensuing flea-flicker from Joe Flacco to Anquan Boldin gave the Ravens a 27-24 lead. They'd add another score in the third quarter to extend their lead to ten entering the fourth.
Evans' third touchdown, a timely defensive stop or two, and a 50-yard field goal from Rian Lindell tied the game at 34, sending it to OT. After forcing Baltimore into a three-and-out on the first possession of overtime, Nelson fumbled on a play in which it appeared, to me at least, that his forward progress had been stopped. Baltimore recovered the fumble, got an additional 15 yards on a rather foolish personal foul from Geoff Hangartner, and the rest is history.
We'll be talking about this one for a while. For now, sound off on your 0-6 Bills' latest loss - simultaneously their best and most gut-wrenching game of the season - in the comments section.