ORCHARD PARK — He said all the right things, but it was his tone that told J.P. Losman’s story following Sunday’s loss to the Jets. In the post-game press conference, Losman was surly. Defiant. And willing to spread the blame.

The wind was tricky. The protection was poor.

Et cetera, et cetera.

Losman had every right to be angry. The Bills perfectly executed their game plan in the first few minutes. After just two plays, Losman had nearly thrown for more yards than he did in all of last week’s win over Miami. And he showed us more later on — lofting a beauty to Josh Reed in the fourth quarter and diving into the end zone to pull the Bills within eight with 85 seconds left.

But highlights aside, a divisional opponent that was waiting to be had got off the hook, another in a string of such results through the Losman era.

And while J.P. is improving in small areas, his speech at the podium proved he’s yet to learn the most valuable lesson the NFL can teach a quarterback — the game’s on you, win or lose.

Point to two plays that have pushed the Bills to 1-2 rather than 3-0:

n The safety Losman took in the opener, and

n The sack-turned-touchdown Losman gave up against the Jets on Sunday.

He said the Bills would have had a “big, big play” had Willis McGahee not missed a block during that fatal play, allowing Kerry Rhodes to come off the backside.

“If it wasn’t going to be a touchdown, it was going to be huge. We had two guys there that were going to be open,” he said.

Great. Would have been a touchdown. It ended up the game’s deciding play.

Losman still doesn’t understand that he can help the Bills more by not hurting than anything at this point. His legs are great and his arm is dangerous. But his attitude, at least to this point, is still a liability.

Dick Jauron didn’t say that Chad Pennington was a stud. Didn’t mention Pennington’s arm strength or his time in the 40.

Instead, the Bills coach recognized one redeeming quality in the other side’s QB — patience, and plenty of it.

“He’s a veteran who understands the game. He’s been around seven years not and he’s good. He knows how to play, he recognizes things,” Jauron said.

To steal coachspeak, Pennington takes what the defense gives him and rarely forces the issue. And while it’s not as pretty, it’s what’s kept him in the league for so long. He led the Jets into red zone three times on Sunday and the Jets scored on each.

And Pennington has never thrown an interception in the red zone as a pro.

Ever.

Still, Losman was more worried with proving to the media that he doesn’t care what they say and write, which usually means an athlete is sensitive to what the media says and writes.

We don’t believe the hype. We don’t care what you guys are saying about our team. Whether it’s good or bad. We don’t read it, we don’t care,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care if they talk about us on TV or if they don’t.”

They’re talking, and it’s not about a resurgent defense and the best special teams in the league. They’re talking about three huge turnovers — the team’s first three of the season — and how they spelled defeat.

Losman is getting better, not about accepting the team’s responsibility on the field, but in reading opponent’s defenses. Now comes the tough part, realizing he’s got the burden of an entire city on his shoulders.

It’s something he can’t fumble away.

Contact group sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, Ext. 2266.