ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -First, quarterback J.P. Losman questioned whether the Buffalo Bills needed a more aggressive attack to spark what’s been an inept offense.
Now, he’s found a new target for what’s gone wrong: The media.
“I know you guys are going to make stories and try to divide this team,” Losman said Monday, referring to a crowd of reporters gathered around his locker, a day after a 26-3 loss at Pittsburgh. “And I told you guys yesterday, the main thing, the main key to this team right now is to not let people or anybody on this team divide us.”
That’s a switch, considering Losman on several occasions following the game wondered whether the Bills were too conservative with their play-calling.
“I just think that we probably need to open it up a little bit more in the beginning,” Losman had said. “I think that we are back on our heels a little bit in the beginning.”
What’s clear is that the offense – and specifically Losman in his third year as starter – is taking the heat for Buffalo opening the season with two losses as they prepare to play at AFC East rival New England this weekend.
It’s a unit that so far has combined to produce two scores (a touchdown and a field goal), 23 first downs, including only one in the first half against Pittsburgh, and 407 yards net offense.
How’s that compare? Six NFL teams produced 407 yards or more on Sunday alone.
“Any time you start off 0-2, any time you only score three points in a game, something’s happening,” Losman said. “And together, as a team, we have to get better. … Could I have played better yesterday? Of course. Everybody could’ve.”
The poor start is a surprise for a unit that was supposed to be better this season, its second under coordinator Steve Fairchild. The Bills also spent a combined $74 million to sign guard Derrick Dockery and tackle Langston Walker this offseason.
So far, the only newcomer playing relatively up to his potential is running back Marshawn Lynch, the rookie first-round draft pick, who has 154 yards rushing and 30 yards receiving and has scored Buffalo’s lone offensive touchdown.
Coach Dick Jauron wasn’t kidding when, before the season started, he expressed concern the offense needed more time.
What he didn’t expect this early was fielding questions of whether to pull Losman. So far, Jauron said he doesn’t have a timetable but also declined to say he hasn’t ruled out a move.
“Yeah, we’d take anybody out of a game if we thought it would help us win the game,” Jauron said Monday.
Jauron, however, stressed he still has confidence in Losman, while noting the entire offense needs to play better.
“Certainly, we needed to perform better,” Jauron said. “Whether it was the game plan as such, I don’t know. When it goes wrong, it’s just wrong. The blame lies in my lap and I’ll take it.”
Following the game, Jauron had questioned Losman’s performance.
“It seemed like he missed some open receivers,” Jauron said, noting that the line provided good protection. “We need to get the ball down the field and complete passes.”
Losman has completed two passes for 20 or more yards this season, compared to 11 in the final three games last season.
And Losman has yet to regain the chemistry he had with star receiver Lee Evans, who has just four catches for 22 yards this season.
Evans, at least, acknowledged the Bills needed to open their attack by taking more shots downfield and keeping defenses honest.
“I don’t think that will hurt any,” Evans said. “Regardless what my stats are or anybody’s stats are, we’re just not doing a very good offensively. And that’s the biggest concern.”
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