The Bills went into their final game of the season against the New York Jets with two major records in their grasp: fewest turnovers in a season and highest yards per carry in a season.
By the time the game was over, they didn’t have either record.
The Bills went into the game having committed only nine turnovers, with six interceptions and three lost fumbles. The NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season is 10, set by the 2010 Patriots and matched a year later by the 49ers. An EJ Manuel fumble (that was initially ruled a sack but overturned on review) dropped the Bills into a tie with those two teams, and a fumble by Jonathan Williams on the ensuing drive dropped them out of a tie for the record. For good measure, Cardale Jones threw an interception in the fourth quarter. The 12 turnovers on the season for the Bills put them in fifth all-time among teams who played a 16-game schedule.
The Bills also went into the game with 5.52 yards per carry, which would have given them the record by a hair over the 1997 Lions, who ran for 5.51 yards per carry on the strength of a 2,053-yard season from Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders. Instead, they only managed to rush for 68 yards on 28 carries. The Bills finished the season with 5.35 yards per carry, good for sixth all-time.
The Bills had a very disappointing season, but they could have at least finished on a high note in some regard. It probably wouldn’t have made the players feel much better, but regardless, it’s just the icing on the disappointing cake that was the 2016 season.