Ford has played an intrinsic part in Scotland bouncing back from last year's wooden spoon disappointment to register the nation's first back-to-back wins in the tournament since 2001.
But ambitions of making it three victories in a row were dashed by a combination of pedantic refereeing by South African Craig Joubert and the Scots' own indiscipline.
The 28-18 defeat ended any Scottish hopes of the title but what worried Ford most was that the positive signs shown in the Italy and Ireland wins were missing against Wales.
He said: "It's never good to lose, but we didn't give ourselves much of a chance. We allowed Wales to control the game quite well.
"Now we just need to look at the video and work out where we can improve. It's always the basics that are most important and against the Welsh, it was a lot of basics that let us down.
"We need to keep working hard there and try and rectify that before France next week. But we are very frustrated.
Such was the baffling nature of Joubert's nit-picking, he awarded 28 penalties during the Murrayfield encounter – including a world-record 19 attempts at the post.
Ford himself was warned that he faced a stint in the sin bin if he could not halt Scotland's tendency to enter into the engage stage of the scrum before the official's liking.
But the front-row forward refused to point the finger of blame at the referee's fussy display and instead admitted it was he and his colleagues' duty to improve their own performance at the set-piece.
He said: "I spoke to the referee a few times. You need to agree with him and get him on your side. Show him that you are trying to work with him. But it didn't work that way.
"We gave him the wrong impression from the first couple of scrums and it just continued from there."
Meanwhile, lock Richie Gray will miss Scotland's final game with France after suffering a hamstring injury on Saturday, the Scottish Rugby Union has confirmed.
The Sale forward was expected to be one of Scotland's leading contenders for a slot in the British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer.
But those hopes could now be dashed following the injury he sustained during the loss at Murrayfield.
Gray will undergo a scan today to determine just how long he will be out of action.
Scotland team doctor James Robson said: "Richie is due to be scanned at Spire Murrayfield hospital with a view to a more accurate assessment of the injury he sustained on Saturday. At this stage I can confirm he will play no further part in the championship.
"It would be premature to speculate further at the moment. With the expert assistance of Spire tomorrow we'll have a better understanding then of the degree of injury to the muscle.
"Richie is on crutches at present and is grateful for the good wishes from supporters."
Dr Robson also confirmed that there were significant soft tissue injuries to a number of other Scotland players which will require further medical assessment but all are expected to be passed fit for the final game of the tournament in Paris on Saturday.
