The final game of the 2009 Buffalo Bills season takes place today, and with it ends the worst decade in Bills history.

You lived it. You suffered. You want to put it to rest.

Before we bid good riddance to the '00s, however, we must take one last look back at the Decade that Wasn't for Bills Nation.

The Bills actually compiled a worse record in the 1970s, winning just 35.9 percent of their

games, than in the 2000s, when they won 40.8 percent entering today's finale against the

Indianapolis Colts. But the Bills had three winning seasons in the '70s, made the playoffs

once and ended the decade on an upswing under coach Chuck Knox. The Bills had just one winning

season this decade, with no playoff appearances, and the decade ends with the team in decline.

What follows is not a comprehensive review (because who wants to read that?), but a capsule

look at the last 10 years of Bills football. For the record, we're not counting the Bills'

playoff loss to Tennessee in this compilation. While it took place on Jan. 8, 2000, it was

part of the 1999 NFL season.

Famous quotes

"I don't want to say I'm hopeful, but there's some hope there." — Dick Jauron, at his wishy-washy worst.

"I think those type of plays, they take the sail out of your wind a little bit."

— Mike Mularkey after a Bills loss to Denver in 2005.

"I'm here to tell you that problem is fixed. Take it to the bank." — Gregg

Williams, upon being hired, on the Bills' special teams. Buffalo allowed two kickoff returns

for TDs in the 2002 opener.

"We're basically out of it." — Wade Phillips in 2000, before his 7-6 Bills

lost, 44-20, to the 7-6 Colts, who went on to make the playoffs.

"Of all the people I interviewed then and the people I interviewed most recently, this

was the best candidate I ever interviewed." — Tom Donahoe, comparing Gregg Williams'

interview with those of Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren and Dennis Green.

"If they're going to put a team there, they should just bring the Buffalo Bills to

Toronto. Case closed." — Willis McGahee in a Penthouse interview.

Best moments

1. Kevin Everett walked. After suffering a catastrophic spinal cord injury in the

2007 season opener, the Bills tight end achieved a remarkable recovery.

2. Hall of Famers. Seven Bills were elected to the pro football shrine in Canton,

Ohio, since 2000. The induction of Jim Kelly in 2001 may have been the most raucous, joyous

Bills event of the decade.

3. The decade ended.

Worst moves

1. Hiring Tom Donahoe.

2. Hiring Marv Levy to replace Donahoe.

3. Giving Dick Jauron a new contract. He went 5-14 after agreeing to the three-year

extension.

Worst free agent moves

1. Signing Derrick Dockery to richest contract in team history.

2. Not re-signing Pat Williams.

3. Signing Langston Walker to $25 million deal.

Best free agent moves

1. Getting a first-round pick for Peerless Price.

2. Signing London Fletcher.

3. Signing Takeo Spikes.

Best draft picks

1. Aaron Schobel.

2. Lee Evans.

3. Nate Clements.

4. Terrence McGee.

5. Travis Henry.

Worst draft picks

1. Mike Williams.

2. J.P. Losman.

3. Erik Flowers.

4. John McCargo.

5. Travares Tillman.

Player of the Decade

Brian Moorman. One could make a good case for Aaron Schobel. But Moorman was

arguably the second best punter in the league (behind Shane Lechler) this decade, which makes

him the highest ranking Bill at his position the past 10 years. Picking a punter as the top

player also best symbolizes the futility of the decade.

Largest defeats

1. 56-10 to New England, 2007.

2. 48-10 at San Diego, 2005.

3. 35-0 at San Francisco, 2001.

Most significant loss

Pittsburgh 29, Bills 24; Jan. 2,

2005. The Bills needed to beat the Steelers and have either the Jets or Denver lose on the

final weekend of the regular season. Drew Bledsoe opened the game by disobeying Mike

Mularkey's orders and taking the ball instead of the wind on the opening coin toss. Pittsburgh

started Tommy Maddox instead of Ben Roethlisberger at QB, then Brian St. Pierre played most of

the second half for the Steelers. Pittsburgh sealed the win when Bledsoe failed to pick up a

blitzing cornerback early in the fourth quarter and gave up a sack-fumble-touchdown to

Steelers backup and future star James Harrison.

Most incredible defeats

1. Dallas 25, Bills 24; Oct. 8,

2007. The Bills force six turnovers, return two of them for touchdowns and get a kickoff

return for a touchdown. But they give up a touchdown with 20 seconds left, an onside kick with

18 seconds left and a 53-yard field goal at the gun to lose.

2. Cleveland 29, Bills 27; Nov. 17, 2008. The Bills overcome three first-quarter

interceptions by Trent Edwards and rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to take a

27-26 lead. But Cleveland gets a 56-yard field goal with 1:39 left and Rian Lindell misses a

47-yarder at the gun as the Bills lose.

3. Miami 24, Bills 23; Dec. 4, 2005. Bills take 21-0 lead then blow a 20-point fourth-

quarter lead to Sage Rosenfels-led Dolphins. This edges out gut-wrenching, season-opening

losses to Jacksonville in 2004, Denver in 2007 and New England in 2009.

Best wins

1. Bills 31, Patriots 0; Sept. 7, 2003.

2. Bills 45, Vikings 39 (OT); Sept. 15, 2002.

3. Bills 16, Titans 13 (OT); Sept. 3, 2000.

Worst in-game decision

Gregg Williams punts from the New England 32, on Nov. 3, 2002. It was fourth-and-2, and the

Bills were down, 17-7, in the third quarter. They lost, 38-7.

Bills team of '00s

Offense: QB, Drew Bledsoe; RB, Travis Henry; WR, Eric Moulds, Lee Evans, Peerless

Price; TE, Jay Riemersma; T, Jason Peters, Jonas Jennings; G, Ruben Brown, Chris Villarrial;

C, Geoff Hangartner; K, Rian Lindell.

Defense:DE, Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay; DT, Pat Williams, Sam Adams; OLB, Takeo

Spikes, Sam Cowart; MLB, London Fletcher; CB, Nate Clements, Terrence McGee; SS, Donte

Whitner; FS, Jairus Byrd; P, Brian Moorman.

Week 17 Preview: Colts at Bills