Straw that broke Bills backs. The Bills fall down on the job, like they did all season, during this 95-yard kickoff return by Jets returner Justin Miller. Miller scored the back-breaking TD at the end of the game, ending a horrific season for the Bills.

[AP Photo/Kathy Willens]

Finally! The long, disappointing and frustrating season is over. The final curtains closed on yet another non-playoff season for the Bills. This time it was the New York Jets that closed it out for them, beating Buffalo 30-26. The Bills had a chance to win, but 4 interceptions thrown by Kelly Holcomb didn't help matters. In fact, it was the Mark Brown interception-return for a touchdown that started the Bills on a downhill slide. Late in the game, after Bills kicker Rian Lindell had kicked a 36-yard field goal to give the Bills a 26-23 lead, Justin Miller returned Lindell’s ensuing kickoff for 95 yards for the clinching touchdown.

The Bills were desperately trying to drive down the field in the later moments of the game, but yet another pick, this one by Ty Law (his 3rd of the game) finished it.

Not too much to say about this game except for the fact that it probably sealed the fate of both Bills GM Tom Donahoe and head coach Mike Mularkey. The Bills had their moments, but Holcomb 4 picks were the fuel that propelled the Jets to their 4^th win of the season. Holcomb completed 23 of 37 for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He was also sacked twice and one has to wonder if Mularkey played Holcomb instead of J.P. Losman to try to save his job. Losman should have played the final two games to get more game experience. The playoff hopes were gone weeks ago, but Mularkey was determined to win the most games he could to remain as Bills head coach. That choice is now out of his hands.

There has been all sorts of speculation on whether Ralph Wilson, age 87, is too old to survive the massive changes needed to make the Bills a playoff contender again. He seemed comfortable with GM and President Tom Donahoe. Wilson also expressed satisfaction with head coach Mike Mularkey as recently as a few weeks ago. The national media has been forecasting no change in the Bills front office or at head coach.

Wilson let his feelings be known after the Bills season-ending loss Sunday, expressing bitter disappointment with the season.

"It's been terribly disappointing," Wilson confessed. "With all the hype at the start of the season with a new young quarterback… but he was unproven. We had too much hype. You can talk about it, but you've got to do it. I just picked that out. I'm not blaming him (JP Losman) for it."

"I'm disappointed with the whole season, the whole season and I'm going to address it. I'm not just going to say, 'Gee I hope we get better next year.'"

Dohahoe has been rumored to be the first man through the exit door at One Bills Drive. Wilson’s statements shouldn’t give Donahoe any job security.

When asked if there was a possibility that the front office structure could be reorganized, Wilson replied,"We're going to change the structure."

Wilson was asked to supply specifics (as to who, what and when).

"I'll get to that. We're going to change the structure," he insisted.

Wilson was asked about Mularkey.

"I'm going to talk to Mike and see what he has to say and see what he thinks he needs," Wilson said. "But there are going to be some changes. What's that old song? 'There are going to be some changes made'? Frankly I forget the words beyond there are going to be some changes made."

Sometime this week for the major overhaul?

"Yea," Wilson nodded and left.

Now it's all on owner Wilson's shoulders. The 87-year old original owner of the Buffalo Bills has to show the fans that he means what he says and that changes, BIG CHANGES, are in store for the Bills. The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999 and that was the year before Donahoe took over as Bills GM and President.

Fans want change and to finally make playoffs

The fans have bought into the HOPE attitude that Donahoe was effective in generating each and every season in selling out the stadium for each and every game. That hope turned into bitter disappointment at the end of each season.

If Wilson wants the fans to renew their season tickets and to continue to have sellouts, he must act now, cut the ties with Donahoe and Mularkey and find someone competent to run the team.

Sources say that Bills GM Tom Donahoe is out. He certainly didn't endear the fans to him in his 5-year stay. Donahoe will be remembered for his gaff when he said that he was "embarrassed to be part of the community" and for when he told a caller on his radio show "If you want to act like a jerk, call the other radio station."

Donahoe's tenure as head of the Bills has been a long and stormy one between him and the fans. He turned Ralph Wilson Stadium into a Police State when he curtailed any expression of free speech, throwing out fans for making chants against him and the head coach, ripping up signs and not allowing fans to bring in cameras or binoculars with their cases. Fans had to throw out their cases if they wanted to be admitted to the stadium. I myself had to decide whether to walk a mile and a half back to my car to drop off my binocular case or throw it out. I chose the latter as my family was waiting inside the gates already.

The Bills loss to the Jets Sunday seals Donahoe's fate and may also show the door for head coach Mike Mularkey. The Bills fans are downright angry over their treatment and the team's play the past few years. They won't renew their tickets if one of those two clowns returns next season.

One former Viking tight end-turned head coach was fired after a disappointing season. After taking his Vikings to a 9-7 season, Mike Tice was fired as the Vikings head coach. Now if he can be fired after a winning season, does that make Bills head coach Mike Mularkey feel safe and secure???

Mularkey should have been fired weeks ago! His Bills went 5-11 and his record is much worse than that of Tice. If he stays as the Bills head coach, fans will drop their Bills season tickets like hot potatoes!

Mularkey must go! There's no debating the issue. Mularkey should not have been hired in the first place. Bills GM Tom Donahoe didn't want to hire a respected coach who already had head coaching experience in the NFL. Once again, like he had with Gregg Williams, Donahoe hired someone who would make much less money than him and would be thankful for a head coaching job.

It was a huge mistake and has cost Donahoe his job. Hopefully he will take Mularkey with him when he tries not to let the door hit him in his butt on his way out. 

Copyright © 2006 Bills Thunder & Rick Anderson, all rights reserved.