Dallas Cowboys go from first to worst in NFC East

IRVING, Texas -- An already historically bad Dallas Cowboys season got worse when they officially claimed last place in the NFC East with a scripted and predictable 16-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills that resembled so many others this season.

The Cowboys failed to get in the end zone for fourth time this season.

The Cowboys defense failed to get key stops late in the game as Dallas lost for the ninth time when it was within a score in the fourth quarter.

"It seems like we've played this game 10 times this year, the same game, where we're fighting our tails off and unfortunately we're not moving the ball," Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said. "At the end of the day it's about the results. We didn't score enough points to win the game. Six points is not going to win you many games in this league. We just don't make the plays to win it in the end."

The Cowboys are in the midst of their second losing streak of at least five games -- a feat last accomplished when the Cowboys went 1-15 in 1989.

Not only have the Cowboys (4-11) ushered in the worst collapse in team history -- never had a Cowboys team lost at least seven more games than it did the previous year -- but the Cowboys, who were 12-4 during the regular season last year, have gone from first to worst for the time since 2010.

There is no chance Garrett will be fired one year after signing a five-year contract extension and leading the Cowboys to just their second playoff win since 1996.

For these Cowboys it's all about moving forward and looking to the future, which includes a high pick in the upcoming NFL Draft even if they won't want to admit it heading into Sunday's meaningless season finale against the Washington Redskins.

The Redskins, who were last in the division a year ago, have already clinched first place in the NFC East and could rest their starters.

"We're worried about this week," team vice president Stephen Jones said. "There will be plenty of time to deal with evaluating what this team did for the season at the end of the season. We've got a game left against the Redskins and that's what we'll focus on."

The Cowboys are currently sitting with the fourth overall pick in next year's draft.

Another loss would give the Cowboys their worst record since 1989 and probably a top-four draft pick for the first time since 1991, when they picked first overall.

"There are great players throughout the draft and I understand fans want us to position ourselves for the best outcome in the draft. I understand that," linebacker Sean Lee said. "But we are professionals and we're still going to play as hard as we can to get wins no matter what. That's our focus."

REPORT CARD Vs. BILLS

--PASSING OFFENSE: F. Kellen Moore completed 13 of 31 passes for 186 yards with an interception that bounced off the hands of receiver Brice Butler. Kellen Moore's passer rating was 48.6. He was not sacked once. This was not good.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: B. On paper the Cowboys ran well, with 25 rushes for 121 yards. Darren McFadden had 19 carries for 99 yards to lead the way. Robert Turbin had five carries for 23 yards. Yet it wasn't good enough to make a difference in the red zone or get the Cowboys in the end zone.

--PASS DEFENSE: B. Tyrod Taylor passed for just 179 yards but he was an efficient 13-of-18 passing. The Cowboys got an interception in the end zone to prevent a score. They also recorded three sacks.

--RUN DEFENSE: F. The Bills have the league's best rushing attack and showcased it with 40 carries for 236 yards. Mike Gillislee had nine carries for 93 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run to ice the game. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor had 67 yards on 14 scrambles. The Cowboys didn't set the edge or hold up in the middle.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: F. Lucky Whitehead fumbled a kickoff. Chris Jones averaged just 34.5 yards on four punts. Dan Bailey badly missed a 50-yard field goal.

--COACHING: F. The Cowboys just can't find a way to win no matter which player is at quarterback. They asked inexperienced Moore to pass the ball 31 times. They also targeted tight end Jason Witten just twice in the game. He got fewer targets than James Hanna.