Injuries really hurt undermanned Bills

FOXBOROUGH - Bills quarterback J.P. Losman said he needs to review the hit from Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork that knocked him out of yesterday's game, but his first instinct is that it was dirty.

"Do I feel it was late? Yeah, I felt it was late," Losman said. "I don't know how late or if it was intentional or anything like that, if that's what you're hinting at. I have to evaluate the situation and see it on film.

Losman was dropping back to pass on the first play of the game when he connected on a 4-yard swing route to running back Marshawn Lynch. The 6-foot-2-inch, 325-pound Wilfork came surging up the middle, making contact with Losman's left knee.

"I was watching Marshawn catch the ball and the next thing I know, I got hit," Losman said.

Losman remained in the game for two more plays - the final play a strip sack by cornerback Ellis Hobbs on a blitz - before being replaced by rookie Trent Edwards. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain and walked with crutches after the game.

Losman is expected to be sidelined for at least the next few weeks. His injury wasn't the only significant blow that the Bills, who entered the game shorthanded, were dealt yesterday.

In the second quarter, starting middle linebacker Paul Posluszny broke his left forearm on a 6-yard run by Laurence Maroney, and was carted off the field.

"I was going to make the tackle and I think I just got hit with the helmet in the arm and it caught me in the right spot," said Posluszny, who is scheduled to undergo surgery today and will be out for a minimum of eight weeks and possibly for the rest of the season.

Also, backup offensive lineman Jason Whittle might have torn his hamstring, according to coach Dick Jauron.

"It was a long day for us in a lot of ways," Jauron said. "It didn't go anywhere near the way we hoped it would have gone. The injuries certainly played a role in that."

The banged-up Bills were already without starting linebacker Keith Ellison and his top backup, Coy Wire. Cornerback and top kickoff returner Terrence McGee (ribs) was also held out of yesterday's game, starting safety Ko Simpson (ankle) is out for the year, and tight end Kevin Everett suffered a life-threatening neck injury in the season opener.

Jauron said he cannot recall another season in his 23-year NFL career when a team sustained so many injuries so early in the year. "It has kind of really set us back everywhere," he said.

In terms of defending the Patriots, the Bills stayed in their nickel package and Cover-2 scheme for much of the game, keeping their two safeties split on the back end of the field. While they might have been tempted to bring a safety into the box to support the run, they instead protected against the big passing play.

That contributed to the Patriots calling more running plays (38) than passes (29).

"When you look at them and look at the matchups, you've got to make some choices," Jauron said. "We just stayed with our game plan and continued to make our choices to try to stay in the game. We just couldn't respond."