THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- It's bad enough the Buffalo Bills have no margin for error if they want to keep their slim post-season hopes alive over the next four games. Now they may have to do it without starting quarterback Trent Edwards.

Edwards was pulled after the first half of Buffalo's disheartening 10-3 loss to San Francisco on Sunday with a groin injury, and was still sore Monday. His status for Sunday's game against Miami in Toronto won't be known until later this week after more tests are performed.

"He really felt it the last throw of the first half," coach Dick Jauron said Monday, adding that Edwards is day to day. "I don't know how much significantly more information we'll have unless the soreness goes away."

Edwards wasn't in the locker-room when the media had access.

If he can't go, backup J.P. Losman will take control of a team that has lost five of its last six games. Losman completed 11 of 17 passes in the second half for 93 yards.

Against the lowly 49ers, the Bills looked nothing like the poised and polished team that started the season 5-1.

Botched field goals, the inability to generate a touchdown in four trips inside the San Francisco 20-yard line, wasting four timeouts and questionable play-calling against a team that had won just once in its last seven games all have Bills players shaking their heads.

"We have to do something different and find a way to win. I can't tell you how we can do that right now," defensive end Chris Kelsay said.

Buffalo's defence allowed just 195 yards, and sacked 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill three times. But an offence that rolled up 350 yards couldn't score a touchdown.

Buffalo's four possessions penetrating the 49ers 20 produced a missed 20-yard field goal by Rian Lindell; a 22-yard field goal; an incomplete pass on fourth down at the seven; and Lindell's 40-yard attempt that clanked off the left upright.

"We have to get the ball into the end zone somehow and any way at all," Jauron said. "It's not an easy task, but we just have to find the guys that can score."

The Bills have now lost three straight at home, and five of their last six. And even if they win all four of their remaining games (Miami, at the New York Jets, at Denver, and New England), they seem destined to prolong their current eight-year playoff drought.

According to STATS, only three teams since 2000 (the 2000 Jets, '02 Chargers, and '03 Vikings) have failed to make the playoffs after a 4-0 start.

"We can't look at the big picture," offensive lineman Jason Peters said. "At the end of the season, that's when we'll see what happens."