The Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Bruce Smith never got a formal opportunity to say farewell to his legion of fans in Buffalo when he was cut by the Bills three winters ago.

The veteran defensive end not only will get his chance when the Washington Redskins face the Bills today, but Smith can make it an even more memorable day by ending his chase of the NFL record for sacks. Smith's 196 1/2 sacks are two short of Reggie White's mark.

What better place than in Buffalo?

The Bills brought Smith into the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 draft. And Buffalo's where he emerged as a star during a 15-year stay, a key contributor on teams that won an unprecedented four straight AFC titles in the early 1990s. He won two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards (1990, '96).

"I wouldn't say it was necessarily circled, but I've looked forward to it," Smith said of his first trip back to Buffalo since he signed with Washington in February 2000. "I'm very excited. It's going to be a memorable experience."

As for the chance to break the record, Smith added: "It would put an exclamation point on my career."

And it would erase the question mark of Smith's chase, which some believe has been a distraction to a Redskins team fixed on more important goals.

As tackle Chris Samuels put it: "Hopefully, Bruce will break the record as soon as possible and get that over with. We've still got games to play."

Both teams are 3-3, and both intend to put behind their recent struggles.

The Redskins, coming off last weekend's 35-13 defeat against Tampa Bay, have lost two straight and three of their last four. Their Patrick Ramsey-led offense isn't clicking and needs help from a running game that probably will be without starter Trung Canidate (ankle).

The Bills are in similar straits, having also dropped three of their last four, and coming off an embarrassing 30-3 loss to the previously winless New York Jets.

The offense is sputtering and the revamped defense is having difficulty against the run - problems that led Bills owner Ralph Wilson to criticize his team for lacking effort.

Bills players are aware of what's on the line.

"Guys are angry right now," Drew Bledsoe said. "We're embarrassed by what we've done, and we will get it straightened out."

The quarterback stopped short of guaranteeing a victory.

"The only thing I can promise is that we're working at it," he said.

Bledsoe is all too familiar with Smith, who was with Buffalo when Bledsoe played for AFC East rival New England. Of the 72 quarterbacks Smith has sacked during his career, Bledsoe has been brought down 12 1/2 times, which ranks second behind former Jets quarterback Ken O'Brien.

"At least I'm not first," Bledsoe said with a smile. "It's an emotional game for him coming back to where he had all that success. I know his motor will be running at a high level, and we'll need to do a good job accounting for him."

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