Buffalo Wins Without Bruce Smith

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bruce Smith was missing on one end, but the Buffalo Bills came up with Art Still on the other side.

Smith, the 1987 AFC Defensive Player of the Year, received a 30-day suspension for drug use Friday, but Still led a Buffalo defense that swarmed to a 13-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday.

“I really don’t know,” Bills Coach Marv Levy said when asked if Smith’s absence sparked the defense. “It’s a possibility. They played with a great deal of pride and effort.”

Buffalo sacked Wade Wilson 6 times, including 2 1/2 by Still, an 11-year veteran who was acquired from Kansas City in the off-season.

Still also deflected a pass that outside linebacker Cornelius Bennett intercepted to set up a field goal as the Bills won their first opener since 1982.

“Even with the loss of Smith, they played at a higher level than they normally would,” Vikings Coach Jerry Burns said. “We did not run the ball well. We did not protect well for our passing.”

Second-year pro Leon Seals replaced Smith, making his first start in a regular-season game.

“There have been questions about me against the run,” Seals said. “I hope I’ve answered them.”

Scott Norwood’s 26-yard field goal in the final quarter gave the Bills a 13-3 lead after Vikings punter Bucky Scribner fumbled and Robb Riddick recovered for Buffalo at Minnesota 10-yard line.

Allen Rice’s 2-yard run for Minnesota closed out the scoring.

Norwood kicked a 27-yard field goal after Bennett’s interception and Thurman Thomas, who had 86 yards in 18 carries, scored on a 5-yard run to make it 10-0 with 13 seconds left in the first quarter.

Minnesota’s Chuck Nelson kicked a 30-yard field goal with 1:05 left in the half.

Buffalo’s Jim Kelly completed 17 of 31 passes for 204 yards.