This is part of our countdown of the 25 worst moments in Buffalo Bills History. Check out the complete list, as well as the 25 best moments in team history, right here.
There are only two moments on the list that are events that still haven't ended. The first of those two is the Buffalo Bills' 15-game losing streak to the New England Patriots.
The Patriots have owned the Bills almost since the day Tom Brady took over as the Pats' starting quarterback. (He's only lost to the Bills once, and that game keeps the streak from being the longest in team history.) The Patriots have outscored the Bills 435 to 146 - or 29 to 9.7 points per game - with two shutouts during this streak. Buffalo has scored ten or fewer points in 10 of the 15 games.
Of two incredibly disgusting figures in all the stats regarding the series, the first is the turnover margin. After a whopping -7 in last year's second meeting, the Bills are -24 in 15 games against the Patriots. The second is New England has outgained Buffalo by 1,645 yards in their last 15 meetings combined - that's almost 110 yards per game.
The image that captures the losing streak is today's photo - Leodis McKelvin fumbling in the final minutes of a game the Bills were leading. In the 2009 season opener, Buffalo had leads of 7-0, 14-7, 17-10, and were up 24-13 until just before the two minute warning. Tom Brady and Ben Watson hooked up for two scores in just over one minute of game time sandwiched around McKelvin's fumble.
Here are a few more statistical tidbits for you this morning.
- Only five times were the Bills within one score of the Patriots.
- The worst loss, a 56-10 drubbing in 2007, came when the Bills had the highest winning percentage at the times the two teams met. Buffalo was 5-4 and on a four-game winning streak when they hosted the Pats.
- The Bills have been held under 200 yards of total offense six times.
- Buffalo has actually out-gained the Patriots five times during the streak.
- The Patriots were held below two touchdowns only once, in a 13-0 game where the winds at Ralph Wilson stadium bent the goal posts.
- New England scored at least 28 points in nine contests, and at least 20 in 12.
- The Bills have had six quarterbacks throw more than two passes during the losing streak and five start games. The Patriots have had just two.
- Buffalo has fielded teams under four different head coaches, while Bill Belichik has been on the Patriots' sideline since well before the streak began.
- The Patriots have won two Super Bowls and been to a third since the streak began.
- Losses to the Patriots have come on Saturday (No. 1), Sunday, and Monday (No. 12). Two have been in prime time.
- The Bills only won the turnover battle once, the season opener in 2006. Three times it was even. Twice the Bills gave up four turnovers more than the Patriots. In the most recent game, Buffalo turned it over seven more times than New England.
- Only one Bills position player was on the active roster the last time they beat the Patriots - Chris Kelsay. Terrence McGee was inactive. Rian Lindell and Brian Moorman are the other players.
