Even for fans of the Buffalo Bills, this one was hard to swallow.
Two late fumbles, a questionable pass interference call; those were just two of the subplots as the Bills blew an early 14-0 lead and allowed the Atlanta Falcons to storm back and earn a 34-31 overtime win over Buffalo.
"We just invent ways to lose," one Bills executive lamented afterward within the gloomy Bills' locker room .
The game was played in Toronto in the cozy confines of the Rogers Centre as part of the Bills in Toronto series.
And while the Bills headed north for their Canadian "home game', they watched what was left of their realistic playoff hopes go south with the setback.
To Falcons safety William Moore, the game could have been played in Atlanta what with the domed atmosphere and the fact that many in attendance were wearing Falcon jerseys.
"The crazy part is we had a lot of support here," Moore said, noting he even saw someone wearing his No. 25 jersey. "It didn't feel like we were in Canada."
The Denver Broncos are now in control of their own destiny as Peyton Manning lobbed five touchdown passes – four of them to Eric Decker – in a 35-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
At 10-2, the Broncos have wrested top spot from the Chiefs in the AFC West and, with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs a strong likelihood, Denver's path to the Super Bowl has been cleared
Alfredsson receives warm Ottawa welcome
There was a homecoming of a different sort in Ottawa where Daniel Alfredsson returned to play for the first time as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
And Alfredsson rubbed it in to the 20,011 Senator fans on hand, carding a goal and an assist as the Red Wings skated away with a 4-2 win.
It was mostly a celebration by the fans for Alfredsson, complete with a video tribute that lasted more than two minutes.
But there were moments that the former Ottawa captain was actually booed while he was on the ice – a reaction that Alfredsson said he could understand.
"They should stick up for their team and that's what they're doing," he said.
What's with Tom Hanks, who is everywhere these days when it comes to sporting events?
Last weekend, Hanks was in Regina of all places, along with pal Martin Short, to take in the Grey Cup.
The Hollywood actor was back in Los Angeles on Saturday watching the Kings play the Calgary Flames and actually calling for a video review on a goal by Justin Williams.
The goal was ruled legitimate but Hanks would leave the game disappointed as the Flames hung on for a 2-1 win.
The Globe's Robert MacLeod curates the best of sports on the web most weekday mornings