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Edwards Delivers In Clutch For Buffalo

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2008

JACKSONVILLE - The Jaguars had the lead, the momentum and the homefield advantage. None of that mattered to Trent Edwards.

Edwards was good early and even better later, doing just enough to lead the Buffalo Bills to their best start in five years.

Edwards finished 20-of-25 passing for 239 yards and a touchdown - a perfect 7-yard toss to James Hardy in the fourth quarter - and the Bills beat the beleaguered Jaguars 20-16 on a steamy Sunday.

"Trent was really good, particularly when he had to be," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "His play was a huge part of the game. Not only did he take us down when he had to, but he also took us down in the midst of the heat. We don't know how good he can be, but he gives us a chance."

Buffalo last started 2-0 in 2003. The team finished 6-10 that season, but expects much different results this time around. And for good reason. The Bills manhandled Seattle last week and kept Jacksonville in check most of the game.

The Jaguars (0-2), meanwhile, are off to their worst start since 2003. They finished 5-11 that season, and could be in for another long year now.

"Losing two games isn't the end of the world," cornerback Drayton Florence said. "Obviously, you don't want to start out 0-2. But the swagger's not gone, the confidence isn't gone, the expectations aren't gone. We've just got to regroup and get this thing turned around before it gets ugly."

The Jaguars looked like they would turn things around in the second half Sunday. Buffalo had just four offensive plays in the third quarter - a commanding 15 minutes for the Jags that gave them their first lead of the season.

Jacksonville took the second-half kickoff and drove 74 yards for a touchdown that tied the score at 10. Maurice Jones-Drew plunged in from 2 yards out, then the Jaguars recovered an onside kick that led to a field goal, the lead and all the momentum.

Edwards fumbled on the ensuing possession, giving the Jaguars good field position, and they tacked on a field goal that made it 16-10 early in the fourth.

Jacksonville looked as though it would hold on from there, especially since the defense had buckled down after a shaky start and since the sweltering heat seemed to be taking its toll on the Bills.

But the heat index of 93 degrees didn't affect Edwards, who completed his first 10 passes and then saved two of his best throws for late in the game. Facing third-and-6 from the Jacksonville 44, Edwards hung in the pocket and threw a strike to Lee Evans that gained 37 yards. Edwards was even better on the next play, hooking up with second-round draft pick Hardy in the corner of the end zone.

Buf-Lynch 11 run (Lindell kick), 8:00.

Second Quarter

Jac-FG Scobee 28, 13:22.

Buf-FG Lindell 21, 6:21.

Third Quarter

Jac-Jones-Drew 2 run (Scobee kick), 9:31.

Jac-FG Scobee 50, 6:06.

Fourth Quarter

Jac-FG Scobee 39, 14:31.

Buf-Hardy 7 pass from Edwards (Lindell kick), 4:10.

Buf-FG Lindell 45, :24.

A-65,167

RUSHING-Buffalo, Lynch 19-59, Jackson 6-17, Edwards 1-(minus 1). Jacksonville, Taylor 14-49, Garrard 6-32, Jones-Drew 7-17.

PASSING-Buffalo, Edwards 20-25-0-239. Jacksonville, Garrard 17-28-1-165.

RECEIVING-Buffalo, Jackson 7-83, Evans 4-77, Reed 4-36, Hardy 2-12, Parrish 1-12, Schouman 1-11, Lynch 1-8. Jacksonville, M.Jones 5-50, R.Williams 4-36, Northcutt 3-36, Jones-Drew 3-25, M.Lewis 1-13, Taylor 1-5.

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