ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Who said J.P. Losman needs time to develop?

Making his NFL debut as a starter Sunday, Losman engineered scoring drives on each of Buffalo’s first five possessions, leading the Bills to a 22-7 win over the Houston Texans.

The 2004 first-round draft pick who has taken over for Drew Bledsoe finished 17-of-28 for 170 yards and a touchdown. Rian Lindell hit a career-high five field goals, one short of the franchise record set by Steve Christie in 1996.

The defense did the rest, generating five turnovers, five sacks and limiting Houston to 120 yards. Houston had seven possessions of three plays or less.

The Bills led 12-0 four minutes into the second quarter before the Texans gained their initial first down.

Houston quarterback David Carr finished with dreadful numbers: 9-of-21 for 70 yards and three interceptions. Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson was a non-factor, finishing with two catches for 7 yards.

Buffalo began erasing the frustrating memories of last year’s 0-4 start, and it established renewed confidence in Losman, who was coming off a shaky preseason. And the Bills won in style, wearing throwback blue-and-white uniforms and white helmets featuring a standing red buffalo, honoring Buffalo’s 1965 AFL championship team.

Although it’s too early to start comparing Losman to Jack Kemp, the team’s starter in 65, the youngster out of Tulane hit eight of his first 10 attempts and consistently scrambled out of trouble. The only knock was an inability to find the end zone. The Bills settled for field goals, including a 42-yarder, on their first four possessions.

After the Texans cut the lead to 12-7 on Carr’s 1-yard fourth-down scamper, the Bills responded on their following possession.

Leaning on running back Willis McGahee, who accounted for 50 yards, Losman capped the 61-yard drive with a 1-yard pass to tackle-eligible Jason Peters, who was wide open in the end zone. Losman got the Texans leaning the wrong way with a great fake handoff to McGahee.

McGahee finished with 117 yards rushing, the eighth career 100-yard performance for the second-year starter. Buffalo improved to 8-0 when McGahee has 100 yards rushing.

Losman was patient and poised, playing within the confines of a ball-control scheme. His best pass was a 42-yard completion to Lee Evans on the opening drive, hitting him in stride on the right sideline. Losman was also efficient, mostly throwing the ball away at the first hint of trouble.

His worst pass was on Buffalo’s first drive of the second half, when he threw it into the hands of linebacker Antwan Peek, who dropped it at the Bills 20.

The Texans managed minus-3 yards on its first three possessions, and turned the ball over twice, both leading to field goals. Carr was intercepted by Troy Vincent and Domanick Davis fumbled, stripped by end Chris Kelsay. For Davis, it was the first time he’s fumbled in 328 touches of the ball, dating to the second game of last season.

Vincent had two interceptions and Aaron Schobel had two sacks.

Bills right tackle Chris Villarrial appeared to reinjure his right ankle in the second quarter and did not return, replaced by rookie fourth-round pick Duke Preston.

AP-ES-09-11-05 1820EDT