TORONTO — Call this trip across the border a reality check. A stiff northern breeze.

Another frustrating reminder that the Bills have trouble entertaining one town, never mind two.

Ryan Fitzpatrick might have graduated from Harvard, but he showed on Thursday that he’s still got some studying to do. The Bills quarterback was, by all standards, simply dreadful in a 19-13 loss to the Jets at Rogers Centre.

That’s probably best. The Bills were never going to the playoffs, and to think that Fitzpatrick should merit consideration for the starting job next year is laughable. While he’d most certainly make a decent backup, he doesn’t have the raw ability to scare teams at this level.

And as the Bills have proven time and again since Jim Kelly left, a mediocre-to-poor quarterback is a surefire recipe for missing the postseason.

Fitzpatrick completed just nine passes on Thursday, his quarterback rating was a woeful 34.3, and the Jets should’ve had at least two more picks.

Hardly a reason to check renew on that season ticket form.

But what’s truly sad about Thursday’s effort is that the Toronto reception, which last year was chilly at best, gave the Bills a distinct home-field advantage this time. It might not have been among the most raucous crowds the franchise has ever played before, but those inside the Rogers Centre made this feel like an authentic National Football League game.

Although rumors of free tickets circulated wildly, there weren’t many empty seats. Not nearly as many as last season. And the crowd even gasped when the offensive line continued its record-setting pace for false starts late in the first quarter, proving that intolerance for silly mistakes is internationally recognized.

But while the crowd was enthused and informed, little about the game deserved emotion.

Terrell Owens slipped back to non-factor status, the offensive line had Fitzpatrick often running for his life and the porous run defense of the Bills once more reminded us that it might not break, but boy, it can bend like a Chinese gymnast.

Perry Fewell might have given us a glimmer of hope with a fiery post-game speech on Sunday, but after four days of talk radio anointing him the next up-and-comer, his team looked less than inspired and certainly not as cohesive as it did last weekend.

Maybe this was necessary. After so thoroughly enjoying last weekend’s resounding win, Bills fans have been desperate to cling to any strand of hope.

But as we’ve said before, this team needs a complete overhaul. A bona fide general manager. An experienced coach.

A new direction.

For maybe the first time, Toronto seemed ready to embrace the Bills on Thursday.

Unfortunately, the Bills did their best to turn them away.

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.