…devastating. See also: heartbreaking; unbelievable; ridiculous; pathetic; incomprehensible; true Bills style.

Yesterday’s sh*tshow game (18-15) against Jacksonville was classic Bills in two very important ways. No. 1: The Bills were ::this:: close to winning and then a few fatal mistakes/ (really a bunch of missed opportunities all game) put the nail in the lose coffin. No. 2: The Bills played their hearts out and gave it their all. That’s all you can really ask for as a fan and nobody can deny that the team didn’t actually play WELL–despite the loss–because there are numbers to prove it.

-Terrell Owens recorded his longest TD reception (98-yards) and hauled in eight other catches for 197-yards total. That’s the type of show everyone’s been waiting to see all season. He also bumped Marvin Harrison out of fourth place for all-time receiving yardage.

-Ryan Fitzpatrick showed NO fear with the football, throwing for 297-yards which is the most a QB has thrown in a single Bills game in three years. Fewell’s call to make him starting QB was correct and justified.

-Safety George Wilson picked off a catch and set up the Bills around the Jags’ 10-yard line. The Bills FINALLY capitalized on an interception when Fred Jackson ran in a TD that would have pulled us ahead…but tight end Shawn Nelson got called on a low block foul, which pushed us back 15-yards and only produced a field goal.

-Lee Evans technically caught an impressive TD pass (jumping over his defenders) but it was called back because left tackle Jonathon Scott got slapped with a facemask penalty.

-Poz played one of his best games to date since returning from his early season injury and Kyle Williams tackled all over and hit Garrard with a HARD sack that took him a few seconds to recover from.

-Our run D actually held Jones-Drew to a measly 2.6 yards/carry…very impressive since this was supposed to be our biggest hurdle coming into the game.

-Lindell hit every FG he attempted, all of which were under 30-yards and easy peasy for him.

-Let’s not forget perhaps the most important thing of all: our coach–Mr. Perry Fewell–actually changed his facial expression. I saw him smile, I saw him clap, I saw him undeniably excited and pumped, I saw him congratulate players as they came off the field and slap a few on the butt, I saw him look dismayed whenever a TD was called back and I believe I saw him look pissed once or twice. I like him, I like him a lot.

So…after all that the Bills still lost…but they really gave it their all. Don’t get me wrong, I was more upset at 4 p.m. yesterday than I’ve been all season but I think the fact that the season will OFFICIALLY never be what we all envisioned has led to a rational, mature and very calm mindset. Minus the penalties, the team’s gameplay was encouraging and commendable. Use the last few games to improve and then look ahead to 2010-11. I think Fewell could be really good for this team and I’m interested to see what he can do with them over the next few weeks.

GO BILLS!!!