Bills playing like Buffalo chips

By Shawn Clarke Oct 24, 2006, 20:20 GMT

- If Bills quarterback J.P. Losman was still wondering what it takes to be successful in the NFL, all he had to do was look across the sideline Sunday at New England's Tom Brady.

Brady, a three-time Super Bowl champion, plays the game with smarts and has the patience in the pocket that head coaches drool over. Buffalo head coach Dick Jauron is far from drooling over Losman, who had yet another shaky performance in Sunday's 28-6 loss to the Patriots.

The Bills have dropped three in a row, slipping to 2-5 on the season. Their second matchup of the year with New England did not produce the results Buffalo had hoped for coming into the contest. New England has now won 12 of the last 13 against the Bills, including seven straight.

After dropping a 19-17 decision in the season opener at New England, the Bills thought they had everything figured out before the opening kickoff. Then, Losman posted three turnovers and went 16-of-25 for 193 yards with no touchdowns behind a struggling line.

'Things happen,' said Losman. 'I don't know what I need to do. I have some things in mind, but I don't care what it is. There are some things I have to do to get that corrected. Whatever it takes. At this point I'll try anything. I have to do those things to protect this ball.'

Losman is a second-year starter and has committed eight turnovers, including five interceptions, in his past three games. Buffalo managed just two field goals the entire day thanks to Losman's inept play and the team's 256 yards of offense. Buffalo also registered a scant 13 first downs, including just four in the second half.

Buffalo has been outscored 88-30 over the past three games, all losses, to Chicago, Detroit and New England.

New England had a 21-3 lead entering the fourth quarter, and it was obvious by the looks of the Buffalo bench, players were out of it. One player in particular was cornerback Terrence McGee, who was benched by Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell in the third quarter.

McGee was involved in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Chad Jackson, after previously getting burnt twice early in the game by Reche Caldwell.

'I was at the time trying to cover something I shouldn't have been covering,' said McGee. 'By the time I realized what I was doing wrong, [Tom] Brady had already seen the opening and took advantage of it. Every week it's the same thing. It's a mental breakdown or something. And something bad happens.'

The defense sacked Brady four times, after he had been sacked just five times on the season entering the game. Buffalo currently owns seven of the nine sacks New England has allowed this year, but on Sunday also allowed New England to convert eight of their 15 third-down opportunities.

Speaking of sacks, the Bills' running game was pretty much out of commission and star back Willis McGahee struggled for yards. The franchise player posted just 59 yards and no scores on 20 carries, while failing to reach the 100-yard rushing mark for the fourth straight week.

McGahee has figured out this season he must make things happen on his own. The offensive line is banged up, and average at best on its most healthy day, which is a good reason for his recent lack of production running the football.

For the first time in a while, the Sabres are the toast of Buffalo, thanks to their blazing start to the 2006-07 NHL season. Fans had pretty much written off the Bills due to another dreadful start to the season, and Sunday's debacle offered more support for that stance.

QUICK HITS FROM SUNDAY

-Defensive end Aaron Schobel recorded two sacks against the Patriots, and has 10 1/2 against them in his career. Schobel, who has sacks in three straight games, is only the fourth player in Bills history with 50 or more sacks. Bruce Smith, Phil Hansen and Cornelius Bennett are the others.

-Placekicker Rian Lindell provided the scoring on Sunday with two 40-plus field goals. Lindell is 10-for-11 on field goal attempts this season, with a 6-for-7 clip from 40-yards plus.

-Veteran wide receiver Peerless Price recorded five catches for 53 yards against the Patriots on Sunday, eclipsing the 5,000-yard mark in his career. Price also extended his receiving streak as a Bill to 62 games, the second- longest in franchise history behind Eric Moulds' 121 contests.

-Defensive end Ryan Denney did not return to Sunday's game after injuring his right hamstring during the first quarter.

-New defensive end Anthony Hargrove made his Buffalo debut on Sunday and recorded one tackle and assisted on another. Hargrove was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Rams last week.

UP NEXT: BYE BEFORE BRETT AND GREEN BAY

The slumping Bills will host Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers on November 5, with hopes of ending their nagging three-game losing streak.

The 2006 season isn't over yet for the Bills but if they drop a decision to Green Bay, it will be hanging by a thread. Buffalo has a 6-3 edge in the series despite losing two of the last three meetings.

In the previous meeting between Buffalo and Green Bay on December 22, 2002, Packers defensive end Vonnie Holliday sacked Drew Bledsoe five times, and Favre threw for 114 yards and a touchdown with two INTs in a 10-0 win. Ahman Green rushed for 116 yards on 16 carries to help the Pack.

Favre and Green are still in Green Bay, and will be prepared for the challenge.

© 2006 The Sports Network