ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -Coach Dick Jauron is so unhappy with the Bills’ inept offense that he won’t even use the absence of injured running back Marshawn Lynch as an excuse.
“You know, I’ve got to be brutally honest about the thing, we’ve really only had one productive game,” Jauron said this week as the Bills (5-6) prepare to play at Washington on Sunday. “So we haven’t been overly productive at the least even when he’s been on the field.”
Lynch, who’s had a hand in seven of 13 touchdowns scored by Buffalo’s offense this season, will likely miss a third straight game because of a sprained left ankle.
That means the pressure is on rookie quarterback Trent Edwards to spark the attack and help keep alive the Bills’ ever-fading playoff hopes.
“Who’s putting a lot on me? Is it you guys?” Edwards said, referring to reporters.
Edwards’ attempt to deflect the focus comes as the Bills are giving him a second shot at winning the starting job for this season and beyond.
“The way I look at it is each game is important, regardless,” Edwards said. “If you ask that question to someone else, they might give you a better answer than I’d have. But that’s the way I look at it.”
Offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild didn’t hesitate when asked to pinpoint his unit’s problem.
“We’ve got a little inconsistency at quarterback,” Fairchild said. “We’re lacking big plays. We’re lacking some explosiveness.”
Edwards will make his fifth start this season and first in five weeks because the Bills are unhappy with the offense’s production the past three games with J.P. Losman behind center.
During that stretch, Buffalo combined for 37 points, scored four touchdowns and averaged a mere 247 yards of offense. To be fair, the Bills’ offense has sputtered for most of the season, except for Losman leading the team to a 33-21 win over Cincinnati on Nov. 4.
The Bills rank 31st in the NFL in yards gained, 30th in first downs generated and 29th in points scored.
It’s a unit that lacks so much finish that it’s been limited to one touchdown or less eight times this year. And forget red-zone production: The Bills have generated only three drives inside an opponent’s 20 the past three games.
That’s not what was expected from an offense that returned mostly intact after showing signs of explosiveness in the latter half of last season, and features a line bolstered by two free-agent additions in left guard Derrick Dockery and right tackle Langston Walker.
Bills players also stressed this preseason how much better the offense was supposed to be entering its second year under Fairchild.
So far, no good.
Receiver Lee Evans’ production has fallen off dramatically. After finishing sixth in the NFL with 1,292 yards receiving last season, he ranks 31st in leading the Bills with 638 yards. Evans also has been limited to two touchdowns after scoring seven or more in each of his first three seasons.
Those poor numbers reflect an offense that lacks a big-play identity. The Bills have had only five completions of 30 yards or longer.
Evans said the trouble starts with the revolving door at quarterback.
“I mean, no quarterback has played more than five games in a row. And you’re not going to be consistent like that,” Evans said. “That’s where it starts for one, and it just goes from there. When you have that type of back-and-forth it makes it tough.”
The Bills’ running attack has been much more consistent this season with Lynch, the first-round draft pick who took over after Willis McGahee was traded to Baltimore in March. His six touchdowns rushing already match the number McGahee had all last season.
Jauron complained the offense still lacks finish.
“There’s really no way you can be happy about it because there’s a lack of production in terms of points,” Jauron said. “That’s what the game’s all about. It’s points scored and points allowed. We’ve just got to find a way to get more explosive.”
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