ORCHARD PARK - Trent Edwards is not regressing. He's maturing.

That's the firm explanation provided by Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron in defense of his second-year quarterback, who's suddenly finding how difficult it is to consistently play at an elite level.

“You're going to have highs and lows. You're going to suffer a lot. You're going to get defeated a lot,” Jauron said Wednesday. “And the bottom line is how you come back from it. I don't have any doubts about Trent Edwards. He's going to be fine.”

Jauron's vote of confidence comes at a critical juncture for both the ongoing development of Edwards and for a Bills team (5-4) that's suddenly reeling, having lost three straight - all to AFC East rivals - and four of five, in preparing to host Cleveland (3-6) on Monday night.

If the Bills are going to turn around this skid, it has to start with an offense that's stuck in neutral, prone to making mistakes and looking nothing like the efficient unit that helped the team get off to a 5-1 start. It was during that run when Edwards was near flawless in engineering three consecutive fourth-quarter comeback victories.

How quickly things have changed.

In his first six games, Edwards went 106-of-152 for 1,209 yards with five touchdowns, two interceptions and two lost fumbles. In his past three, Edwards has gone 58-of-93 for 636 yards with two TDs, five interceptions, two lost fumbles and has given up a safety.

“Bad habits,” Edwards said.

He then shrugged when presented the opportunity to blame an assortment of issues - injuries, a pedestrian running attack and a porous line - that have been plaguing the offense.

“I really think those are all good answers to the reason why it's not going the way it was earlier in the season. But I'm not the type of person that likes making excuses,” Edwards said. “I'm going to look to myself, I'm not going to look to the other guys ... I need to change as fast as possible.”

Things can't get much worse for a unit that produced 168 yards offense and 10 first downs - both season-lows - in a 20-10 loss at New England last weekend.

Edwards, who earned the starting job ahead of J.P. Losman midway through last season, maintains the support of his teammates.

“It's just the growing pains of a young quarterback,” receiver Lee Evans said. “We keep him going. We keep him positive. And he knows that we go as he goes.”

It would be nice if that support came on the field as well, because not all of the Bills struggles can be attributed to Edwards.

Buffalo's ground attack is going nowhere. In the past two games, it's combined for 90 yards rushing, no touchdowns and not had a run of over 16 yards.

“It's not functioning the way we need it to or the way we want it to,” coach Jauron said. “The best way that I can describe it is we are in a slump.”

Marshawn Lynch, who's yet to break 90 yards rushing this season, isn't talking, still unhappy with how he was portrayed in the media after pleading guilty to a hit-and-run accident in June.

Lynch, on Wednesday, merely laughed before walking away when asked about the Bills' lack of production.

Reserve running back Fred Jackson was left to answer questions.

“We're not playing up to our potential,” Jackson said. “I know that Marshawn and I want to make it personal this weekend. We have to go out and get something started and see if we can spark the team in some way.”

Another problem is the Bills passing attack, which is minus No. 2 receiver Josh Reed, who's missed the past two games and remains out indefinitely with an injured right foot. Backups Roscoe Parrish and rookie James Hardy have failed stepped up to fill that role and draw attention away from Evans.

Facing a limited attack has allowed opposing defenses to crowd the line of scrimmage and apply more pressure on Edwards.

“I'm just frustrated,” Edwards said, Monday following the loss at New England. “There are certain plays I could have changed. But I can't do anything about it now. We need to get ready and get better as soon as we can.”