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 will not only get his chance when the Washington Redskins travel to face the Bills on Sunday, but Smith can make it an even more memorable day by ending his chase of the NFL record for sacks. Smith’s 1961/2 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.”

Call it separation Sunday for two nonconference opponents with 3-3 records, both intent on putting 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 will likely 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 have led Bills owner Ralph Wilson to criticize his team for lacking effort.

And that spells trouble for coach Gregg Williams, in the final season of a three-year contract. Williams has evaded questions about his status, saying everyone – coaches and players – needs to perform better.

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 and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride have been the focal points of the criticism directed at an underperforming unit that ranks last in the NFL in total yards and yards rushing, and 31st in yards passing.

When he’s not forcing passes, Bledsoe appears hesitant, uncharacteristic for someone who set 10 franchise passing records last year.

It doesn’t help that receiver Eric Moulds, Bledsoe’s favorite target, might miss his second straight game because of a groin injury.

The Bills are getting little production from a running attack averaging less than 58 yards a game. And their offensive line is springing holes, having given up seven sacks against the Jets.

“I’m embarrassed about the games that we’ve lost,” center Trey Teague said. “We’re just not getting it done as a team at all right now, and that makes everybody look bad.”

Now here comes Smith. While his sacks production might have decreased with his playing time, even at the age of 40 he still knows how to find his way into an opponent’s backfield.

“If you look at him, it’s like the plastic man,” teammate Renaldo Wynn said. “I can’t turn my hips like him, unfortunately, but he has a special gift at being able to be very flexible.”

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 121/2 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.”

AP-ES-10-16-03 1350EDT