By LEO ROTH
Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - When Buffalo Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes looks at the NFL standings, he can't help but feel like it's April and not November.

The Cincinnati Bengals 5-5 and tied for first place in the AFC North? The Bengals, who haven't been to the playoffs in a dozen years? The Bengals, the team Spikes played his heart out for over the past five seasons, tasting victory only 19 times in 80 games?

It's no April Fool's joke, and neither is the Bills' 4-6 record.

Still, the Bengals' surprising success under new coach Marvin Lewis coupled with the Bills' surprising struggles under lame-duck coach Gregg Williams hasn't left Spikes regretting his decision last March to sign with Buffalo as a free agent. Quite the contrary.

"No, not at all," Spikes said. "If I had to do it 10 times over and even knowing we'd be at this point record wise, I'd still do it. I had to believe what was best in my heart for Takeo. I love those guys (in Cincinnati) like brothers. I've spent more time with them than the guys here. I'm happy for them. But this is where I belong."

And besides, he owns the head-to-head bragging rights. The Bills beat the Bengals 22-16 in overtime back on Oct. 5 when they still remembered how to score touchdowns.

At least Buffalo's defense hasn't forgotten how to keep teams out of the end zone.

One of the bright spots in this disappointing season is the play of the defense, which has improved in 10 statistical categories from a year ago, including total yards allowed (14 to 4), rushing yards (29 to 12) and points (27 to 6). Spikes, as expected, has been the catalyst with 89 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery.

How could he know Buffalo's offense would plummet in 11 categories, including passing (5 to 26), total first downs (3 to 25) and points (11 to 31)?

How could Spikes know the Bengals, under Jon Kitna, Rudi Johnson and Peter Warrick, would be averaging five more points per game than Drew Bledsoe, Travis Henry and Eric Moulds?

The Bills host the explosive Indianapolis Colts (8-2) Sunday and nobody can realistically expect Buffalo to limit Peyton Manning and Co. to one TD, as it did against Dallas and Houston the past two weeks. Demonstrating the diplomacy he has all year, Spikes gently spelled it out for Bledsoe and his offensive teammates, who haven't scored a touchdown in four of their past five games.

"Well, plain and simple, we need the offense to play well," Spikes said. "At the same time, we need to help them out as a defense, creating good field position for them. We need some turnovers on the plus side. But if we have to win the game 9-0 or 9-6, we've got to do that. I don't want to be sitting around in January with everyone else in the playoffs. I've done enough of that."

Spikes, who starred at Auburn and became a first-round pick in 1998, experienced records of 3-13, 4-12, 4-12, 6-10 and 2-14 with the Bengals.

Cincinnati wanted him back, putting its transition tag on him, but elected, ultimately, not to match Buffalo's six-year, $32 million deal that included $11 million in guaranteed money.

Lewis, instead, signed Cowboys linebacker Kevin Hardy, Tennessee Titans defensive tackle John Thornton, and Oakland Raiders cornerback Tory James, all starters, spending approximately the same amount of upfront cash.

In speaking with Lewis, Spikes said he felt he would not have been a good fit for his system, and besides, Spikes sorely needed a change of scenery.

"I felt what he wanted to accomplish and what I wanted to accomplish, it would've been two totally different environments," Spikes said. "I felt he couldn't get that done if I was going to be there and I didn't want to be a disruption. I didn't want to be the Keyshawn Johnson of that team."

Instead, the 26-year-old Spikes is Buffalo's go-to guy.

All business on the field but fun-loving off of it, he has vastly upgraded Buffalo's team speed, versatility against the run and the pass, and its overall intensity level.

Though he's well on his way to a sixth consecutive 100-tackle season, Spikes would prefer to improve on his big plays. He's gone seven games without forcing a turnover, and the Bills' one defensive weakness remains takeaways (11, tied with Pittsburgh for the AFC low).

Working on his game and not blaming the offense is Spikes' focus for these final six weeks.

"One of the things that keeps us humble and focused is that we are able to talk to each other. We're not talking behind each other's backs and putting something out in the press," said Spikes, who saw enough of that approach in Cincinnati. "No. 2, the biggest thing as a whole is the team concept. There are going to be times on defense where we give up 30 and we need the offense to score 31. It's the old saying, 'Don't bite the hand that feeds you.' And I still feel we've got something to play for."

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