Trent Edwards Is Strugglin', J.P. Losman Must Wonder What He Has to Do to Play

It wasn't long ago that people couldn't mention Trent Edwards without pointing to his league best passer rating in the fourth quarter. But that was back when Buffalo was 4-0, 4-1, 4-2 ... you get where I'm going with this.

After Sunday's loss to the Patriots, one in which Edwards looked Losmanian, the Bills are now 5-4 and tied for last in the AFC East. Part of the current three-game losing streak can be blamed on injuries -- the team was without Aaron Schobel and Donte Whitner -- but every club is missing key personnel this time of year.

The bigger issue, I think, is that Edwards has regressed to the point that people wonder if J.P. Losman changed uniform numbers and cleaned himself up.

Head coach Dick Jauron, always the level-headed Ivy League egghead, is keeping things in perspective:

"I think we have a quarterback, I really like this guy," said Jauron. "To start the season he played so unlike a young quarterback that now whenever he makes an error, we think there is something wrong.

"[Sunday] was probably not his best day, clearly, in a number of ways. It's a learning experience. We're going to have to live with some things because I think he is an outstanding player."

Jauron's not ready to push the proverbial panic button because a) he used to coach the Lions (the Bills must seem like the 2007 Patriots by comparison), and b) Losman's still the backup.

At 5-4, Buffalo's not out of the postseason conversation, but they've put themselves in a tough spot. Obviously, Edwards needs to play a lot better. Good news: he's quite capable. Bad news: he hasn't really looked the same since Adrian Wilson maimed him back in Week 5.