The Bills' defense could only play well for so long Sunday before it needed some help from the "O." Against the Texans, that help never came.

Despite FS Jairus Byrd picking off two more passes, giving him six INTs in the past three games, and the "D" holding Houston's potent attack to just three field goals through the first three quarters, the offense did nothing to bail them out. Eventually, the levees broke in the fourth quarter as the Texans scored 22 points to post an easy 31-10 victory.

Behind QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, making his second straight start in place of Trent Edwards (concussion), Buffalo mustered just 204 yards of offense and nine first downs while gaining 4.5 yards per play. And the rushing attack continued to be an issue, too, as RBs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson combined for only 71 yards on 18 attempts. A 29-yard run by WR Terrell Owens represented the team's only touchdown.

"Everyone is not pleased with the way we played, but looking at it from our team's perspective offensively we're not getting it done," Owens said. "The defense is doing a great job. They're keeping the opponent out of the endzone. Honestly, the defense has been playing their butts off the last four or five weeks and offensively we haven't done anything to help them out."

The PFW spin

Just when it looked like the Bills were taking a step forward coming off two consecutive road wins, they took a giant step back this week. However, it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise considering the putrid play of their offense recently. Averaging 11 points in the last six games, the club has failed to reach 300 yards of offense in any of those contests and has topped out at 160 passing yards. In each of the past two weeks, Buffalo has recorded a whopping nine first downs.

While the players obviously deserve much of the blame, the offense still doesn't have much of an identity after coordinator Turk Schonert was fired prior to the regular season and replaced by Alex Van Pelt. The team has scrapped the no-huddle attack, but it hasn't resulted in improved play. The quarterbacks don't seem to have much chemistry with Owens or Lee Evans, and Lynch and Jackson have been very inconsistent running the ball. In fact, Lynch is gaining a paltry 3.1 yards per carry since returning from his three-game suspension.

Any controversy that Fitzpatrick should remain the team's starter following its Week Nine bye likely ended Sunday. Fitzpatrick threw for just 117 yards with no TDs and two interceptions (41.4 passer rating) against a mediocre Houston defense. Edwards, who suffered his concussion in Week Six, should be ready to go for the Bills' next contest on Nov. 15, and it would be shocking if he isn't reinserted into the starting lineup. Even though Edwards has struggled this season, he has more experience with the offensive personnel and completes a higher percentage of passes.

As for the defense, which made strides Week Seven at Carolina and early on against the Texans, everything came crashing down in the fourth quarter Sunday when the unit allowed RB Ryan Moats to rush for three TDs. Allowing 186 yards on the ground, the Bills remain the league's worst run defense, something they are definitely going to need to address during the bye. Whether it's stacking the box or simply getting more physical, Buffalo can't allow offenses to impose their will and dominate the line of scrimmage.

The bye comes at a perfect time for the Bills, who were already banged up before watching Byrd, DE Aaron Schobel and OLB Keith Ellison leave Sunday's game with injuries. They'll use the off week to rest and retool before traveling to Tennessee in Week 10.