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There are ugly losses, when superb opportunities are inexplicably squandered against a lesser opponent, and there there's what happened Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
The Carolina Panthers dominated the Buffalo Bills in yardage (425-167) and first downs (20-9), but lost big where it counted the most, providing resounding evidence for the validity of coach John Fox's oft-repeated phrase "stats are for losers."
The scoreboard revealed the only numbers that mattered: Buffalo won 20-9.
The defeat could have a season-shattering effect on a Carolina team that's been searching to hit its stride, but now is a deeply disappointing 2-4 heading into a tortuous closing schedule that includes only two teams with losing records.
It also could signal the end of Jake Delhomme's run as Carolina's starting quarterback. He threw three more interceptions Sunday, including two that directly led to Buffalo touchdowns.
Delhomme described the loss as "disappointing, just crushing" and added: "Usually, I'm not too much at a loss for words, (but) I'm almost numb."
For the first time, Fox didn't follow a subpar Delhomme performance with a commitment to keeping him as the starter.
"Like all positions, we'll evaluate it and whatever changes we need to make, we'll make," said Fox.
Pressed further on whether he'd replace Delhomme with Matt Moore or A.J. Feeley for next week's game at Arizona, Fox said: "We just got off the field and have not evaluated the thing. I think he played the whole game. I think we moved the ball effectively. The turnovers were critical."
Delhomme said, in his heart, he'd like to believe he's done enough to keep the job, but he understands that may not be the case.
"Let's be honest -- I don't think I'm a dummy -- when you're not playing well offensively, you always have to look at the quarterback," said Delhomme.
"I'm certainly not looking to give it up by any stretch of the imagination. But let's be real here. Two big turnovers today really affected us."
Left tackle Jordan Gross went into full protect-Jake mode in the locker room, pledging allegiance to Delhomme despite the fact that Delhomme now has an NFL-high 13 interceptions this season after throwing five against the Cardinals in the Panthers' playoff loss last season.
"I've got faith in our backups, but (making a change) seems like a break-glass-and-pull-the-handle type of thing if you do that," said Gross. "That's not my call. But Jake's my guy. I have faith in him."
It's not like the Bills are a power team. They're now 3-4, but their offense could barely move the ball except for the times when Carolina turnovers put them in almost instant scoring position.
Rookie safety Jairus Byrd intercepted two Delhomme overthrows and returned the ball to the Carolina 7 and 27, respectively, setting up TDs both times.
Late in the game, Kenny Moore's muffed a punt, fumbling the ball away to the Bills at the Carolina 20 to set up a field goal.
Carolina's mistakes didn't end there, however.
Usually reliable kicker John Kasay missed field goal attempts from 43 and 39 yards in the first half, the first time he'd missed two in a game in almost four years. Questioned about Delhomme's struggles, Kasay blamed himself.
"I put Jake in a bad spot today," said Kasay. "I put a lot of pressure on him. I put a lot of pressure on the offense and the defense. That's my fault so I guess I would say to him 'I'm sorry.'
"He didn't deserve it and that's not fair."
This was supposed to have been the day Carolina got its record back to .500. After beating Washington and Tampa Bay, the Panthers were favored over a Bills team playing without starting quarterback Trent Edwards.
Instead, the Panthers let a huge opportunity get away despite what was mostly an outstanding performance by their defense.
At halftime, Carolina trailed 7-2 despite outgaining Buffalo in total yards 238-39 and topping the Bills in first downs 13-2 in the first two quarters.
The Bills' lone first-half points came after Delhomme overthrew a deep pass to tight end Gary Barnidge, resulting in Byrd's interception and 37-yard return to the Carolina 7.
Two plays later, running back Marshawn Lynch almost walked into the end zone – literally – for the only touchdown of the first half and a 7-0 Bills' lead.
The Panthers' only points before halftime came on a safety midway through the second quarter when nose guard Hollis Thomas tackled Fred Jackson about two yards deep in the end zone.
The Panthers finally drove into the red zone midway through the third period, reaching the Buffalo 13.
But the drive stalled when the Panthers couldn't convert on fourth down with less than a yard to go.
Coach John Fox opted to go for the first down rather than let Kasay try a field goal. Last week at Tampa Bay, the strategy worked for Fox. This time it didn't.
Running back Jonathan Stewart was dropped for a 2-yard gain, giving the ball back to the Bills.
Fox admitted that Kasay's prior field goal misses, both on the same West end of stadium, might have influenced his decision to try for a first down.
"We went for a run and they max-blitzed it and hit it in the mouth," said Fox.
"At the end of the day, it was a decision I made and it was the wrong one."
Later in the third quarter, Delhomme threw yet another pass that was intercepted by Byrd – the rookie's fifth pickoff in the past three games.
Delhomme's downfield pass to Steve Smith was too high and Smith was only able to get one hand on the ball. Byrd picked it off and returned it 33 yards to the Carolina 27. However, Byrd made it clear that he didn't have Smith well-covered.
"He was kind of open," Byrd said of Smith. "If (Delhomme) had just put it on (target), he would have completed it. But he kind of put it behind him a little bit and I saw it sailing and I was just right there."
Six plays later, the Bills scored on a 2-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to Lee Evans for a 14-2 lead.
Buffalo's lead grew to 17-2 early in the first quarter on a Rian Lindell field goal.
The Panthers' offense finally had a scoring drive midway through the fourth quarter.
Delhomme's 48-yard pass to Smith moved the ball to the Buffalo 24. Four plays later, on fourth-and-1 from the 15, DeAngelo Williams broke free for a TD that cut the Bills' lead to 17-9.
The Panthers might have had a chance to continue their rally until Moore fumbled with 5:15 remaining. It was his first punt return of the game. Captain Munnerlyn had handled the chore up to then, but said he was unable do so that time because he was experiencing painful leg cramps.
The Bills converted the turnover into 22-yard field goal by Lindell to close out the scoring.
Delhomme tried to rally the Panthers once more after that, but threw a third and final interception with 90 seconds remaining.
The almost cruel reality for Delhomme is that now he may not get a chance to try to avenge his poor playoff performance against Arizona when the Panthers play there next week.
Charles Chandler: (704) 358-5123 and @CharlesChandler
