Losman efficient in debut as Bills handle Texans
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- The Houston Texans seemed to use one
word the most to describe their 22-7 loss to Buffalo on Sunday:
embarrassing.
"It was embarrassing for our team, the fans, and our family,"
said Texans quarterback David Carr, who was 9-of-21 for 70 yards
and three interceptions.
It was over when ... |
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The Bills built a 12-0 lead early in the second quarter behind four Rian Lindell field goals before the Texans managed a first down. Jason Peters then put the game out of reach when he caught a 1-yard TD pass from J.P. Losman to put the Bills up 19-7. | Game ball goes to ... |
J.P. Losman. The second-year quarterback showed veteran poise, leading the Bills down field for scores in each of the team's first five posessions. He finished 17-of-28 for 170 yards and 1 TD and an 89.9 passer rating. | ESPN's take ... |
A young quarterback has to understand his role in the offense and J.P. Losman showed he has a grasp of what the Bills want him to do. The coaching staff and organization has shown a great deal of confidence in him by eschewing Drew Bledsoe in the offseason and letting him throw the ball 28 times Sunday. If they didn't have confidence in him they would've limited his attempts. Instead, they let him be a weapon and he responded by not throwing any interceptions and having a good game. Losman has excellent receivers to throw to in Eric Moulds and Lee Evans and a great defense supporting him. He doesn't have to throw for 400 yards and he realizes that.
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Receiver Andre Johnson said players missed assignments and the
team was hurt by turnovers and penalties. Johnson was most critical
of the offense.
"I think we were embarrassing on offense. We just couldn't get
anything going," said Johnson, a Pro Bowl receiver who was a
non-factor in the game, finishing with three catches for 18 yards.
Sunday's game showed the 4-year-old Texans franchise might not
be ready yet to shed its NFL expansion label.
Texans coach Dom Capers said his team started out slow and could
never could get in rhythm.
Houston had seven possessions of three plays or less. The only
score came on Carr's 1-yard scamper on fourth down in the second
quarter -- and he barely made it, diving for the pylon as he was
being tripped by linebacker London Fletcher
"I'm sure our offense isn't really confident coming out of this
game, but they'll recover," Capers said.
The Bills managed to score only one touchdown, a 1-yard
reception by Jason Peters. But Rian Lindell hit a career-high five
field goals, one short of the franchise record set by Steve
Christie in 1996.
It was the Bills defense that led the way, generating five
turnovers, five sacks and limiting Houston to 120 yards.
Bills quarterback JP. Losman showed poise and confidence as he
engineered scoring drives on each of Buffalo's first five
possessions.
"To come out here on the first day and it worked, it was
awesome," Losman said. "This was amazing man. ... Fans were going
crazy and I got pumped up. It couldn't have been any better than I
designed."
The second of Buffalo's two 2004 first-round draft picks
finished 17-of-28 for 170 yards and a touchdown and with an 89.9
quarterback rating. That's a better rating than former starter Drew
Bledsoe had in 11 of his 16 games last season with Buffalo.
"I'm here, I'm the starter now. It's my second year. We're
going to get it rolling," Losman said.
Bills owner Ralph Wilson was happy.
"It was an impressive showing," Wilson said. "What can I say,
he did a great job for the first start."
"We definitely stepped up today," Bills cornerback Nate
Clements said.
Carr said the Bills' defense "was the best defense I've played
against."
The Bills led 12-0 four minutes into the second quarter before
the Texans gained their initial first down.
"That's as helpless as I've felt playing quarterback since I've
been in the third grade," Carr said.
Bills safety Troy Vincent, who had two interceptions, said the
unit could've done better. He was more happy with the team's
offensive effort.
"It's always nice to see the young guy come along," Vincent
said of Losman. "He was poised. ... He did a great job this
week."
Losman acknowledged he wasn't too poised the night before,
saying he took a sleeping pill to calm himself. The pill didn't
work, Losman said, noting he was among the first to arrive at the
stadium Sunday morning.
It didn't seem to have an effect. Losman hit 8 of his first 10
attempts, including a 42-yard completion to Lee Evans on the
opening drive. The only knock was an inability to find the end
zone. The Bills settled for field goals, including a 42-yarder, on
their first four possessions.
Losman, however, did respond after the Texans cut the lead to
12-7.
Leaning on running back Willis McGahee, who accounted for 50
yards, Losman capped the 61-yard drive with a 1-yard pass to
tackle-eligible Peters, who was wide open in the end zone. Losman
got the Texans leaning the wrong way with a great fake handoff to
McGahee.
"This is real big," Evans said. "For him to get off to a good
start, it's key for us, especially for a young player, to come out
and execute."
Game notes
Carr's 12.1 passer rating was the second-worst of his
four-year career. He had an 8.2 rating in his second career game.
... The Bills won in style, wearing throwback blue-and-white
uniforms and white helmets featuring a standing red buffalo,
honoring Buffalo's 1965 AFL championship team. ... McGahee finished
with 117 yards rushing, the eighth career 100-yard performance for
the second-year starter. Buffalo improved to 8-0 when McGahee has
100 yards rushing. ... Houston RB Domanick Davis fumbled in the
first quarter, his first fumble in 328 touches of the ball since
the second game of last season.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Ron Winter
2024 AFC South Standings
Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 79 | 94 |
Indianapolis | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 85 | 85 |
Tennessee | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 79 | 90 |
Jacksonville | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 60 | 109 |
2024 AFC East Standings
Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buffalo | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 122 | 83 |
New York | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 76 | 62 |
New England | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 52 | 87 |
Miami | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 45 | 103 |