The recent slide illustrates an on-going trend. After averaging 27.3 points and 319.5 yards during their 4-0 start, they have averaged 17 points and 274.7 yards in losing eight of the last 10 games.

Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert said the reason for the Bills' woes is simple.

"We're not making plays," he said Thursday. "Early in the year we made mistakes, but we overcame those mistakes by making plays. We've had opportunities in front us and we haven't made them, and therefore we sputter. It's hard to get a rhythm or get consistency when that happens. We have to figure our way out of this funk, and you do that by making plays."

It was only three weeks ago that the Bills exploded for season-highs of 444 yards, 27 first downs and five touchdowns in a 54-31 win at Kansas City. But the way the offense has foundered since then, it's like that game never happened.

Sustaining drives has been a big problem. The Bills have converted 38 percent of their third downs this season (tied for 19th in the NFL), and were a season-worst 1 for 10 during Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins.

The Bills were only 4 for 14 against the Chiefs, but the offense didn't have to engineer long drives because many possessions began on short fields.

Even with the struggles on third down, the Bills have had scoring chances the last two weeks. But in their last five possessions in the red zone, they have mustered a grand total of three points. Missed field goals, a turnover on downs and an interception were the result of the other drives inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

The Bills have fallen to 26th in the NFL in the percentage of red-zone possessions that ended in touchdowns (45.2).

"I went back [Wednesday] and looked at all the third downs we had last week and we should have been 6 of 10," Schonert said. "It wasn't what [the Dolphins] did, it's what we did to ourselves. That game last week was our worst of the season on offense. We didn't perform in any area."

On Wednesday, running back Marshawn Lynch blamed himself for what is ailing the running game. But some prominent offensive players disagree.

They say the Bills' ability to run is not the issue. Sticking to it is.

Wide receiver Lee Evans and left tackle Jason Peters have been outspoken in their belief that the Bills have abandoned the running game too often.

They specifically questioned the play-calling in the red zone, where the Bills have thrown more times than they ran the last two games. Lynch had just 13 carries for 31 yards against Miami, while backup Fred Jackson didn't have a single touch.

Schonert wouldn't concede there has been a lack of commitment to the running game, adding that mental breakdowns have put the offense in more passing situations.

"I like running the ball," he said. "We have two really good backs. But it wasn't like we were blowing holes through them or else I would have just run the ball. We were turning guys free in the hole, lining up wrong, we had missed snaps. We had everything happen in the run game. So I was trying to call something to get us excited and get some energy on the field by hitting something down the field, and we didn't execute the pass game either.

"Whether we run it or throw it, we just have to be more consistent. We've had opportunities. You go back and look at the film and you just scratch your head because there are plays to be made and we're not making them."

If the offense is going to snap out of its funk Sunday against the New York Jets, it will do so without its quarterback.

Trent Edwards is expected to miss a second straight game with an injured groin, which has prevented him from practicing the past two weeks. J.P. Losman was erratic in his first start in more than a year, but Schonert is hopeful Losman will be better Sunday.

"I think J.P. will play better every game he plays," Schonert said. "Yeah, he made some mistakes and missed some reads and some throws, but he did some good things as well. Hopefully the more he plays the more confident he gets and the more confidence his teammates will have in him. He's a veteran. It's not like he's a rookie. So he should be able to pick things up quickly."

But Schonert thinks the mistakes can and must be corrected if the Bills are going to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

"It's not like we look at it and say, 'Wow, we have no hope,' " he said. "This game always has been about players making plays. If they don't make plays it doesn't matter what I call. I told the guys I'm embarrassed to score three points in two games. We need to come out with some fire and some focus this week and make up for it."

e-mail: awilson@buffnews.com