Losman efficient in debut as Bills handle Texans

Updated: Sep 11, 2005, 11:00 pm

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 ...

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 ...

Eric Allen

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.


-- Eric Allen

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.