ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Bruce Smith is starving for another Super Bowl. And right now the topsy-turvy NFL looks like one big banquet of opportunity.

"No question, I have a burning desire to get back there," said the defensive end and the NFL's No. 2 career sack leader, who played in four straight Super Bowl losses in the early 1990s.

Smith, 36, is in his 15th season. Denver is sagging and the New York Jets are in a tailspin without their quarterback, Vinny Testaverde.

"We have a legitimate shot," Smith said. "I'll do whatever I can to make sacrifices, to eat up double and triple teams so my teammates can make plays. I'd give your right arm to get back there, not mine but yours."

Look out, Barry Sims. The Oakland Raiders left tackle might face Smith against Buffalo (4-1) on Sunday if Mo Collins is unable to play because of strained ligaments in his right knee.

Look out, Rich Gannon. Denver's Alfred Williams had a field day with eight tackles, including two sacks, in last week's 16-13 win over Oakland (2-3).

"I didn't play the best game against the Broncos," said Sims, whose only professional experience before the last couple of weeks was playing for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe. "So I guess they're going to line up and come right after me.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge. You always hear about Bruce Smith and now I get to go against him. It's like a dream come true."

Smith doesn't care who lines up against him as long as the quarterback is sacked or pressured into an errant throw, and the running back is stonewalled.

The Bills, No. 1 in the league against the run, have won four games in a row since being sliced and diced by Indianapolis' Peyton Manning and rookie running back Edgerrin James in a 31-14 loss the first week. Since then, Buffalo hasn't allowed a team -- let alone an individual running back -- even close to 100 yards on the ground.

"Defensively, this is the best we've been in a long time," Smith says. "The personnel is probably the best we've ever had. We have a great deal of depth, and that's allowing some players like myself who have been around a while to come out on some downs and get a rest; and at the same time we don't lose any quality of play."

The Raiders were first in the league in rushing until gaining just 55 yards against Denver last weekend. Tyrone Wheatley, who leads Oakland with 306 yards rushing and three touchdowns, says the Bills defense has been impressive _ so far. "Maybe they just haven't met the right team yet," he said.

Gannon, the AFC's fifth-ranked quarterback just ahead of Buffalo's Doug Flutie, has some talented receivers in Tim Brown (365 yards, two TDs), James Jett and Rickey Dudley.

Gannon saw the Bills defense made some especially big plays two weeks ago in a Monday night win over the Dolphins. "They're very aggressive," he said. "Smith looks like he's in his prime still. The whole group is playing well. They've really put their offense in some good situations."

Smith has made several trips home to Virginia recently to visit his seriously ill father, George. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate.

"I'm doing my best," he said. "Every time I get a phone call, late at night or early in the morning, I wonder if there's something wrong at home. I think I'm handling it well, and my teammates have been very supportive."

Smith knows he can count on Andre Reed, his teammate since they both joined the Bills out of college in 1985 -- longer than any other two players in the league. Reed shares Smith's strong desire for another Super Bowl.

"It motivates me a lot," Reed said. "It wouldn't be worth coming to work every day if I didn't have that in mind. But there's a lot of steps that you have to take for that to happen."

Reed, one of three Bills -- along with Smith and injured running back Thurman Thomas -- left from the four Super Bowls, says the Bills have as good a mix of young talent and veterans as any other team.

"I can only think of two teams, that's San Fran and Dallas, really," Reed said. "Jerry (Rice) and Steve (Young) and Troy (Aikman) and Emmitt (Smith) and Michael (Irvin)."

OAKLAND Season schedule and results

BUFFALO Season schedule and results

September 12 @Green Bay L 24-28 September 19 @Minnesota W 22-17 September 26 Chicago W 24-17 October 3 @Seattle L 21-22 October 10 Denver L 13-16 October 17 @Buffalo 1:00pm ET October 24 NY Jets 4:15pm ET October 31 Miami 4:05pm ET November 14 San Diego 4:05pm ET November 22 @Denver 9:00pm ET November 28 Kansas City 4:15pm ET December 5 Seattle 4:15pm ET December 9 @Tennessee 8:20pm ET December 19 Tampa Bay 4:05pm ET December 26 @San Diego 4:05pm ET January 2 @Kansas City 1:00pm ET

September 12 @Indianapolis L 14-31 September 19 NY Jets W 17-3 September 26 Philadelphia W 26-0 October 4 @Miami W 23-18 October 10 Pittsburgh W 24-21 October 17 Oakland 1:00pm ET October 24 @Seattle 4:15pm ET October 31 @Baltimore 1:00pm ET November 7 @Washington 1:00pm ET November 14 Miami 1:00pm ET November 21 @NY Jets 1:00pm ET November 28 New England 1:00pm ET December 12 NY Giants 1:00pm ET December 19 @Arizona 8:20pm ET December 26 @New England 1:00pm ET January 2 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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