Stephon Gilmore

Buffalo Bills corner back Stephon Gilmore (24) takes part in drills during the team's NFL football minicamp in Orchard Park, N.Y., Tuesday, June 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)

(Bill Wippert)

Orchard Park, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills' loss to the New York Jets in Week 2 will be one they look back on for a variety of reasons.

The 37-31 loss to the Jets was New York's only win so far this season. It was the only game this season in which Fitzpatrick has thrown for over 300 yards, the only game in which he didn't throw an interception. He's thrown 10 interceptions in the four games since that day.

The NFL is a strange league, and it was as strange as it gets on that Thursday night in Orchard Park, where seemingly every jump ball Fitzpatrick threw was caught by someone in a green jersey. Since then, Fitzpatrick has lost the ability to quarterback, while the Bills haven't allowed a 300-yard passer during a four-game winning streak.

"We're definitely better," Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore said Monday. "That Jets game, it happened. It wasn't our best game. We learned from that and we don't want that taste in our mouths anymore. We're just coming out every day having great practices during the week and coach is putting great game plans together. Maybe we needed that game to help us win these last four games. That's one thing I took from it. Just learn from it and put it behind us."

In a lot of ways, that game represented growth for the Bills. Yes, they hated getting whacked on national television, but at least they've responded since then.

"That's one thing we grew in as a team," Gilmore said. "When something bad happens, we have short-term memory where we don't pounce on what negative happens. We bounce back and make plays. That's one thing we grew at as a team."

There's still a chance the Bills may end up looking back on the game with a sick feeling. Playoff spots can often come down to the slimmest of margins. However, who knows if the Bills would have gotten on track the way they have without the gut punch the Jets delivered?