Bruce Smith

ASHBURN, Va. - When training camp began, new Washington Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer spoke openly of his goal to contend for a championship this season, saying he owed it to himself and his team to set the bar as high as possible. But the losses have mounted, the chances to win a title have been obliterated and Schottenheimer has scaled his dreams back accordingly, now aiming for something this side of respectability. "Our goal is to win one game, and if we do that, to win a second game," said Schottenheimer.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Ralph Wilson took off the baseball cap he was wearing, hugged Andre Reed, pointed to the hat and told him: "See what you got for me?"The hat declared the Bills AFC East champions and a smiling Reed told the Bills owner, "That's what I like to see."A difficult, 24-13 victory over the Jets yesterday gave Buffalo its fourth straight division title, its 17th straight victory at Rich Stadium and the inside track on home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs."This one feels a little better than the others because we played with a lot of adversity," Wilson said amid the celebrations in the locker room.

BUFFALO BILLS Last season: 11-5, second, lost to Tennessee in wild-card round, 22-16. Coach: Wade Phillips (37-27), third season with Bills, fifth in NFL. Strength of schedule: first. Starting quarterback: Rob Johnson (4-3). Best move: Making the team younger, faster and more cap-friendly by saying goodbye to aging veterans like DE Bruce Smith, WR Andre Reed and RB Thurman Thomas, then addressing the defensive needs by drafting players like DE Erik Flowers, S Travares Tillman and LB Corey Moore.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Marv Levy learned a lot from George Allen -- maybe too much.The coach of the Buffalo Bills was an assistant to Allen when he coached the Washington Redskins against the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VII.Allen spent the week railing about the distractions of Super Bowl week. Allen might have gotten his team so uptight that it contributed to the 14-7 loss to Dolphins. The Redskins were favored by three points, even though the Dolphins were 16-0 going in.Levy topped Allen and every coach in the history of the Super Bowl yesterday -- he was a no-show at a scheduled session with the media.

Although defensive tackle Tony Siragusa and end Michael McCrary practiced yesterday, the defense will probably be taking on the same youthful look in tomorrow's season finale that it showed in last week's 21-19 victory over Tennessee.Look for third-year end Keith Washington to start in place of left end Rob Burnett, whose ankle injury kept him off the practice field all week and probably will restrict him to the sideline in Cincinnati.Look for Larry Webster to get most of the playing time in Siragusa's spot.

There was a certain edge to Bruce Smith when he was answering questions about his team earlier last week. Others were barely getting their words out before Smith had an answer. It was apparent he already knew the topic, and he met it with stern and concise responses. "We have to win," Smith said of the Washington Redskins' game tonight against the New York Giants. "There are no ifs, ands or buts about that. We realize what's at stake, not from a Super Bowl standpoint, but from confidence being built in this locker room.

LANDOVER - If there's one positive note the Washington Redskins can take with them for the holidays, they can breathe easy in knowing that they are better than an expansion team. The Redskins proved that yesterday by racking up a season-high 247 rushing yards and limiting the first-year Houston Texans to 166 yards of total offense en route to a 26-10 victory before 70,291 at FedEx Field. Washington (6-9) broke a three-game skid and collected only its second win in the past seven contests, leaving left tackle Chris Samuels to remark, "It's a big win. A great Christmas gift."

ASHBURN, Va. - Perspectives are slightly off-kilter these days in the Washington Redskins' locker room. Far from the somber tones one might expect from a team that is 0-5, Redskins players such as defensive end Kenard Lang and fullback Donnell Bennett have been heard singing lively '70s tunes at the top of their lungs in an effort, no doubt, to shake off the blues. By contrast, offensive tackle Chris Samuels admitted that he "cried like a baby" in private after Monday's 9-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

ASHBURN, Va. - People who have been in Bruce Smith's company know that he is reserved, even-tempered and relaxed. That's why, as Smith's Washington Redskins (3-3) prepare to visit the Buffalo Bills (3-3) at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the defensive end is single-minded - almost guarded - about returning to the birthplace of his NFL career. "I haven't been back there in four years," Smith, a defensive end, said. "I'm going there with a purpose right now and that's to win a ballgame.