Cool Edwards beats the heat

In yet another squeaker against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bills snuck by the Jags 20-16 to go 2-0 in the season. This is the first time they've opened winning their first two games since 2003. That's when they beat the Patriots in opening day 31-0 and then beat the same Jags in game 2. From there, it all went down hill for the Bills and then Bills QB Drew Bledsoe. This time the Bills hope they can keep their streak going.

Bills second year quarterback Trent Edwards put in a workman-like performance as he completed 20 out of 25 passing for 239 yards and a touchdown.

There's a perfect word to describe Trent Edwards performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday: methodical. Edwards was definitely methodical in driving the Bills to their game-winning touchdown. The Bills second year signal caller was almost perfect in the searing 93 degree heat and was as cool as a cucumber. His two big strikes to Lee Evans and the concluding 7-yarder to James Hardy were the kind of throws one would expect of a Tom Brady, John Elway or Peyton Manning. That he is only 24 years old and displaying that kind of poise is almost unheard of.

The Bills had a horrible third quarter as they didn't get their offense on the field until there were only 6 minutes left. The Jags drove down the field on their opening second half drive and scored. Then they out-tricked the Bills by recovering an on-sides kick and getting a field goal out of it.

However, the Bills, under the guidance of Edwards, drove down the field to score a touchdown late in the 4th quarter and added a 45-yard field goal to give them a 4-point advantage. The Jags, with only 28 seconds left, couldn't get the needed touchdown and the Bills are 2-0.

Coming out for the second half, the Bills were leading 10-3. The Jags received the opening second half kickoff and the Bills never touched the ball again in the quarter until there were only 6 minutes left in the quarter. The Jaguars had scored 10 points, on a long drive and a field goal that came as a result of an onsides kick that they recovered after the touchdown.

The momentum had shifted dramatically and the Bills couldn't get going in their first second half drive start, so they had to kick again. The Jags took a 16-10 lead that looked as if it would stand until Trent Edwards buckled down his chin strap and really got to work. In a manner reminiscent to Tom Brady with the Pats, Edwards took the Bills down the field to the game winning touchdown. Two big tosses by Edwards were highlights on that drive.... a 37-yarder to Lee Evans and a 7 yard pass where he hooked up with James Hardy, who leaped high to haul in the pass.

The Bills added an insurance field goal and now are coming back home unbeaten, where they face the Raiders next week.

Hardy gets his call

James Hardy has been waiting for the Bills to throw his way. The 6'-5" rookie receiver had to be patient. Finally, he got his chance Sunday in Jacksonville and it turned out to be huge. Hardy came down with a high Trent Edwards pass in the corner of the end zone. He had to leap, twist and make sure his feet stayed in bound when he came down with it. The catch, his second of the day, turned out to be the game winner.

Hardy is sure to be used a lot more in the future, especially down in the red zone where the Bills have had so much trouble the past 10 years.

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