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  GAME DAY PREVIEW Game time: 1:00pm ET
Buffalo (5-3-0) at Washington (5-2-0)
 
  Records
TEAM W L T PF PA HOME ROAD NFC AFC DIV STREAK
Buffalo 5 3 0 147 129 3-1 2-2 1-0 4-3 2-1 Won 1
Washington 5 2 0 242 188 2-1 3-1 4-2 1-0 2-2 Won 1


LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- For the second week in a row, the NFL's top-scoring offense is facing a team that's been living off its defense. It's time for the Buffalo Bills to take a shot at slowing down the high-octane Washington Redskins.

"They put up dang near 50 points," Buffalo defensive end Phil Hansen said. "We'll need to play better than we did last week to win this game, no question about that."

Better than last week? The Bills defense essentially won the game, allowing just 200 total yards and forcing two fourth-quarter turnovers that led to scoring drives in a 13-10 victory at Baltimore.

Add those two scores together, and the total still isn't close to the Redskins average of just under 35 points per game. Last week's 48-22 dismantling of the Chicago Bears has the Redskins thinking run-and-gun every game, even if Bruce Smith and Co. are on the other side of the line.

"We believe in what we do," guard Tre Johnson said. "We're just going to do more of it on them. I think it's going to be something to see on Sunday."

Washington quarterback Brad Johnson, with 14 touchdown passes and just two interceptions, certainly agrees with the something-to-see part. He was sacked twice by Smith the last time he faced the Bills, which was two years ago when Johnson was with Minnesota.

Now Johnson plays behind a line that has allowed just eight sacks and has opened holes for Stephen Davis, the league's leading rusher with 696 yards. Buffalo's defense has 16 sacks and gives up just 3.3 yards per run, fifth in the league.

"It's worth the price of admission to see our line vs. their front," Brad Johnson said.

The assignment of staying in Smith's way goes to left tackle Andy Heck, who is facing the 36-year-old defensive end for the fourth time and sees no signs of a slowdown.

"I don't see any struggles," Heck said. "I see him playing hard, coming clean with quick moves, like he's always done."

The Redskins (5-2) and Bills (5-3) have similar records, but that's about all. The Redskins lead the NFC East, while the Bills are fourth in the AFC East. Washington's scoring machine is offset by the league's worst defense, while Buffalo's defense has to hold the line until Doug Flutie gets his game back.

Flutie was the lone bright spot when these teams met in an exhibition game in August, putting on the type of energetic show that made him the Comeback Player of the Year in 1998.

However, in his last three games, Flutie has thrown eight interceptions and had nine other potential interceptions dropped. He's also been sacked eight times and had 13 passes deflected at the line.

"We've won five games, and he's been the quarterback," said coach Wade Phillips, emphatically stating he is sticking with Flutie ahead of backup Rob Johnson.

Flutie could benefit from the return of receiver Eric Moulds, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. The remarkably healthy Redskins will have a starter miss a game for the first time this season -- Matt Stevens goes at free safety for Leomont Evans, who is recovering from a concussion.

But it's the Washington offense that has Phillips skittish. The Redskins have scored the last 23 times they've cracked the opponent's 20-yard line.

"Inside the 20 or outside the 20, nobody's stopping them either way," Phillips said. "Most teams get down there and because there are more people close to the line of scrimmage, they can't run it in. The Redskins, they run it in."

BUFFALO
Season schedule and results
WASHINGTON
Season schedule and results
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 L 14-20
October 24 @Seattle L 16-26
October 31 @Baltimore W 13-10
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
September 12 Dallas L 35-41
September 19 @NY Giants W 50-21
September 26 @NY Jets W 27-20
October 3 Carolina W 38-36
October 17 @Arizona W 24-10
October 24 @Dallas L 20-38
October 31 Chicago W 48-22
November 7 Buffalo 1:00pm ET
November 14 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET
November 21 NY Giants 4:15pm ET
November 28 Philadelphia 1:00pm ET
December 5 @Detroit 1:00pm ET
December 12 Arizona 1:00pm ET
December 19 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET
December 26 @San Francisco 8:20pm ET
January 2 Miami 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited.

 


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Washington Clubhouse



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