Earlier in the week Head Coach Rex Ryan proclaimed his team wasn’t going to quit as the Bills needed a Christmas miracle to snap a 15-year postseason drought.
The product on the field showed otherwise in a 35-25 loss to Washington, eliminating Buffalo from postseason contention and extending the playoff drought to 16-years.
The first half was uninspiring with the Bills defense surrendering three total touchdowns to Kirk Cousins, while the offense sputtered amassing 93 total yards and just three points.
Buffalo trailed 21-0 at half.
The Bills showed some life in the second half, pulling to within 28-17 after back-to-back scoring drives and touchdown from Mike Gillislee and Sammy Watkins.
But, it was too little too late.
Cousins marched Washington 80 yards, converting four third downs in the process -- including a 3rd-and-16 -- to put the hometown team back on top 35-17.
The play calling was suspect and the discipline still lacking for the Bills.
An end around to Marcus Thigpen? A receiver screen to Robert Woods? All while Sammy Watkins was virtually ignored (again) as Buffalo played catchup.
The Wildcat with EJ Manuel?
Yeah, that happened. Twice in fact.
The first time it nearly ended in disaster. It looked like Manuel had fumbled the ball into the endzone as he dove for the goal line in the second quarter. He was ruled down.
The second failed wildcat attempt came 3-and-3 from the Washington 13. The former first round pick was stopped behind the line of scrimmage.
The Bills settled for a field goal, their first points of the game to pull within 21-3 in the third quarter.
Before all that, Taylor and the Bills managed one of their best drives of the game midway through the second period, marching all the way down to the Washington 1 before turning it over on downs.
McCoy was stuffed twice, and even thanks to a Washington penalty the Bills were given an extra chance to punch it in.
QB sneak? Jerome Felton, the league's second highest paid fullback? He didn't get a touch, either.
Instead, Taylor overthrew Watkins -- only his fourth target of the first half.
The penalties were limited, but a crucial encroachment penalty on 4th and 1 gave Washington a first down on 4th-and-1.
Cousins would later run for a score to give Washington a 14-0 lead in the second.
With so much to play for, there was plenty left to desire from this team, not just in Week 15 but since September.
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