ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Though Dick Jauron declines to discuss whether his job is in jeopardy, the Bills coach doesn’t hesitate in determining who’s responsible for Buffalo’s dreadful start.

It’s on him, and him alone.
On four occasions during a six-minute news conference Monday, Jauron blamed himself for what has gone wrong with a team off to a 1-3 start following what his players called an “embarrassing” 38-10 loss at Miami on Sunday.
Jauron questioned himself regarding his team’s lack of preparation. He took the blame for a banged-up and inexperienced offensive line that allowed six sacks against Miami: “I point the finger at myself first.”
And it was more of the same from Jauron when asked to assess the Trent Edwards-led offense that managed a mere 206 yards, 10 first downs — none by rushing — and converted 1 of 11 third-down chances.
“Is that what you’re looking for?” Jauron said, referring to who might be responsible for the offense’s struggles. “Then I blame myself. I’ll say it’s me and then go from there.”
A month into the season, Jauron’s already on the hot seat, which is where he was at the end of last year after leading Buffalo to its third consecutive 7-9 finish before being retained by owner Ralph Wilson.
And this weekend’s home game against the winless Browns has a sudden must-win quality to it for Jauron and a team that’s already fading out of contention in an ever-competitive AFC East.
Jauron wouldn’t hear about feeling any additional pressure.
“Every game you’re playing for your job. Every game you’re coaching for your job,” said Jauron.
The same questions are suddenly being asked about Edwards, who is showing signs of regressing.
Edwards particularly struggled against Miami by throwing three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.
“Obviously, since we lost, I don’t think I’m playing the way I need to be playing, so that’s the bottom line,” Edwards said. “I think if you ask that question to everyone else on the team, I think they’d say the same thing.”
Trouble is, Edwards hasn’t been the same since a 23-14 win against San Diego last October, which got the Bills off to a 5-1 start. In his past 11 full games, Edwards has a 3-8 record while averaging 197 yards passing with 11 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, two lost fumbles and being sacked for a safety.
Jauron defended Edwards, saying his confidence remains “very high” in the second-year starter.
This season was supposed to be different with the addition of Terrell Owens, who was expected to spark a popgun passing attack by providing Buffalo another deep threat opposite Lee Evans.
Owens has been held in check with eight catches for 158 yards and a touchdown, and Edwards is having trouble going deep. Of his 117 attempts, only 20 have traveled 16 yards or beyond.
Owens had three catches for 60 yards against Miami, a week after being shut out to end a 185-game receiving streak. He once again resisted criticizing Edwards or the offense, except to say, “We just have to get back to the drawing board and keep working.”
Contributing to Edwards’ struggles is an offensive line that was inexperienced to begin with, and is now depleted by injuries. Starting right tackle Brad Butler sustained a season-ending right knee injury in Week 2, while starting left tackle Demetrius Bell missed the game against Miami due to a groin injury.
That left a starting unit featuring two rookie guards and two reserve tackles. The Bills put themselves in this position by draining much of their experience when they cut veteran starters Derrick Dockery and Langston Walker, and traded two-time Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters to Philadelphia.
“They were a group that got kind of singled out after the game,” Jauron said, defending his linemen’s performance against Miami. “They had their times when they needed to play better. So did a lot of other positions.”