With Trent Edwards back on the field practicing, albeit on a limited basis Wednesday, it was clear that J.P. Losman's performance last Sunday was the deciding factor in keeping him in the starting lineup for this Sunday's game at Miami.
"J.P.'s performance was a big factor," said Dick Jauron. "There's no need or reason to talk around that and then the injuries are always a factor. They're a factor in all of our decisions. They've been a big factor in the changes to this point."
But Jauron clearly indicated that Losman's 295-yard passing performance, which helped the team set season highs in nine statistical categories, was the incentive to keep the veteran signal caller in the lineup. And according to Jauron, so long as Losman continues to perform he'll continue to start regardless of Trent Edwards' health.
"I think we'll just keep moving along here and hopefully we won't change a lot," said Jauron concerning the quarterback position. "But we don't know. We don't know the answer to that. Again, it's not like we're looking for a quarterback. We feel like we have at least two that we think can play and hopefully win in this league."
So how does the current arrangement of playing based on performance sit with Losman?
"As long as you keep performing and that's going to be the case then that's simple enough for me," said Losman. "I know what I've got to do. If I take care of it and I do it then I stay in there and if I don't, what can I say? I didn't do my job. I can't argue with that."
Losman feels the message he's gotten from Jauron in the conversations he's had the past couple of weeks with his head coach has been a pretty straightforward one.
"We've just got to keep it going," Losman said. "That's his message to me when he talks to me. Let's just keep it going, let's just go get another win. Let's keep it rolling, keep being sharp, keep studying. As a player that's where you want to be."
Some might liken Losman's situation to that of a tightrope walker where the slightest dip in performance could bring the curtain down on any future opportunities. But Losman maintains he is not adversely affected by the current state of affairs. If anything he's thriving on them.
"I've been through a lot and I've been prepared for situations like this so far here in Buffalo and it's only helping me now that I'm in this situation again," said Losman. "I don't feel any extra pressure, I feel confident just like last week and I'm ready to go out there and get a win."
And another win in which Losman can be a catalyst will mean another week where he'll have the opportunity to lead the offense.
