Sometimes you gotta go back to actually move forward. And I don’t mean go back to reminisce or chase ghosts, I mean go back to see where you came from…where you been, how you got here, see where you’re going. I know there are those that say you can’t go back…yes you can, you just have to look in the right place.

Those genius words are from Matthew McConaughey and the ad people at Lincoln Motor Corp. That’s some deep stuff right there – if you stop for a minute to analyze such wisdom you’re likely to have a stroke – just nod your head and go buy a crossover vehicle.

I think the Bills may have seen this commercial too many times, because on Thursday against the Miami Dolphins, they went back to see where they came from. They went back over the past 14 years, took a little bit of everything and rolled it all into a single game. Sadly, I don’t think it means they are moving forward, nor do I think many of these guys are going to go out and buy a Lincoln, so I’m not sure if anyone wins…

Last Sunday’s loss to Kansas City was classic Bills – off to a 5-3 start, playing a must-win divisional game at home – a challenge, but one well within reach. Squander a lead, blow it in the fourth quarter and find a way to lose. With that loss the Bills were pretty much dead – the AFC is so tight this year that you can’t be on the wrong end of every tie-breaker and think you’ll reach the playoffs.

The short football week started right after the Chiefs game ended with Leodis McKelvin shooting his mouth off (and raising the ire of censors everywhere) by guaranteeing a win over Miami in profane terms. I like McKelvin’s fire – always good to see some passion for winning, but what a knuckleheaded thing to say. It gave Miami some bulletin board material and made Leodis look like a fool. It’s one thing if you thought that McKelvin could single-handedly backup his swagger, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him be the difference-maker in a game (unless you define fumbling away a win to New England as being a difference-maker).

Just about every malady that has plagued Buffalo over the past 14 years was on display on Thursday. It started with key players being hurt. Fred Jackson, the heart and soul of the team, wasn’t healthy enough on short rest to give it a go. Sammy Watkins seemed to be less than 100%, and when you’re a speedy receiver that’s a problem.

Miami began the game with a drive reminiscent of so many we’ve seen in the past. They took more than half of the first quarter to put together a 14-play scoring drive. The Buffalo defense had some good plays, but just couldn’t get off the field. On back to back plays the Bills came away with sack and a tackle for a loss to setup a 3rd and 24 situation, then promptly blew it by letting Miami convert the third down to continue the drive. Lucky for the Bills Miami is about as bad as scoring red zone touchdowns as the Bills, do despite drive to the Buffalo 9 yard line, the Dolphins only came away with three points.

The Bills first drive was almost a carbon copy of Miami’s, minus a big play (the longest gain was 15 yards). The running game was effective if unspectacular, the passes were short – nothing over about 10 yards in the air. Like Miami, Buffalo was able to drive the ball down to the red zone but unable to come away with a touchdown. It seems like the Bills have had issues putting points up on the board forever, even when they get to the red zone. Since 2000, the Bills have only ranked better than 20th in total touchdowns scored three times – 2002 and 2004 with Drew Bledsoe, and 2010 with Ryan Fitzpatrick (2004 was also the last time the Bills finished the season with a winning record).

Miami’s second drive included another big play – a 33 yard run by Lamar Miller, but the Bills were fortunate that they recovered a fumble at their own 13 yard line. As they did on the first drive, Buffalo drove the field with effective runs and short passes but again had to settle for a field goal after having a first and goal from the Miami 6 yard line. Miami’s final drive of the half was unspectacular, but Buffalo was called for illegal contact when Miami was facing 3rd and 13 yards to go – the penalty prolonged the drive. Again, ghosts of seasons past – the defense being unable to get off the field.

The teams went to the locker room for the half with Buffalo nursing a 3 point lead. They would get the ball to start the second half and I really felt that if they could score a touchdown on their opening drive it could very well seal the game. In typical Bills fashion, instead of capitalizing on getting the ball to start the second half, the team came out flat and went 3 and out.

Like just about every Bills team we’ve seen in recent memory, almost nothing changed from the first half – few, if any, adjustments were made. Buffalo continued to be inept at moving the ball and scoring points. The running game cooled off and was eventually abandoned (the Bills ran the ball only once in the fourth quarter). The offensive line did not play well, leaving Kyle Orton little time to throw and opening few holes for the run game. Imagine that – a Bills with a questionable offensive line that abandons the run game and becomes pass happy – never seen that before (Kevin Gilbride, anyone?).

Miami seemed to move the ball with relative ease against a tired Buffalo defense – when the offense is inept and the defense can’t get a needed stop the defense tends to wear down. As if the Dolphins needed it, they started to get help from some terrible officiating the game. Miami scored 2 points on a safety called when Orton through the ball out of the end zone and was called for intentional grounding even though Watkins was in the area. Subjective penalties against the Bills? Nah, couldn’t be.

Say what you will about the officials calling the safety – an argument could be made that it was the right call (although I severely doubt the call would have been the same if the quarterback was named Tom Brady). A few plays later and Stephon Gillmore was flagged for a 24 yard pass interference call when he appears to have knocked the ball away with perfect timing. It was a terrible call and left the Dolphins in position to score a touchdown 2 plays later. 9 points off of questionable penalty calls in a close game makes my head want to explode, but it isn’t the first time the Bills have fallen victim to such things – just give it to them!

Perhaps the final straw in the game came when the conservative offensive play calls culminated in the punt heard round the world. Down by 10 points (that’s 2 scores for you playing the home game) the Bills drove into Miami territory and were faced with a 4th and 6. In some bizarre explanation of the decision, Doug Marrone tried to justify the move by arguing about field position. Really? Punt because you want to pin Miami down inside the 20? That move to punt said loud and clear that the Bills were playing to lose – Joe Pendry, anyone?

And so here we are, just as in seasons past – mid November and the Bills are all but out of the playoffs baring a mid-air collision between planes carrying the Dolphins and Patriots. The excitement of being 5-3 is long gone. The quarterback we once thought was the answer has turned out to not be much better than the guy he replaced. The offensive line is playing poorly. The defense is very good – if they can avoid being on the field all the time, but with the offense being so anemic they don’t have much choice. The Bills are still giving up big plays to opponents while running a dink and dunk offense to move the ball.

So maybe Matthew McConaughey does know what he’s talking about – you can go back to see where you came from and where you are going. Sadly, I’m not sure that helps the Bills – we’re all painfully aware of where they have been and where they are going and neither is pretty. It’s enough to make you want to get in a Lincoln and drive off into the sunset spouting off words of questionable wisdom as you go.