ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Early last week, Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan couldn't overstate the importance of Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, saying, "Does it break your season if you lose? I hope I don't have to worry about that."

Now Ryan has to worry about what the Bills' 41-25 loss means for a season that seems to be unraveling quickly.

By Ryan's own admission last week, the Bills have little chance at stopping the Patriots from capturing their eighth consecutive division title. The 4-4 Bills are effectively playing for a wild-card spot, and their loss to Tom Brady -- his 26th career win over Buffalo -- only puts Buffalo in a deeper hole in a potential playoff tiebreaker. Buffalo is now 1-4 in AFC games after losses to the Ravens, Jets, Dolphins and Patriots.

The Bills aren't in must-win territory yet, but life will not be easy over the second half of their schedule. They next play the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football, a road contest that might be tougher than Sunday's home meeting with the Patriots, who are now 7-1. The Bills will get some much-needed rest after returning from Seattle, but the Bills are back on the road in Cincinnati after their bye week.

Winning against the Seahawks would help, but the Bills essentially would be toast in wild-card tiebreakers if they drop the Bengals game. Losing in Cincinnati would give the Bills a 1-5 conference record -- the second tiebreaker after head-to-head record -- and put them in a deep hole entering the homestretch of the season.

In other words, it's close to desperation time for the Bills. After they showed so much promise during their four-game winning streak, what changed? Brady proved too much for Ryan's defense, a mediocre unit that might have fed off poor quarterback play through its first seven games. Prior to Brady's four-touchdown afternoon Sunday, the Bills had not faced a quarterback this season who ranked better than 17th in Total QBR.

Offensively, the Bills can't catch a break. With LeSean McCoy (hamstring) sidelined Sunday and Sammy Watkins (foot/injured reserve) not eligible to play until Nov. 27, the Bills were without their top two playmakers against New England. Receiver Robert Woods saw limited action because of a foot injury, while Charles Clay (shoulder) and Mike Gillislee (foot) also played through physical ailments.

As the Bills stumble into their final game before their bye week, Ryan has plenty to worry about.