Buffalo Wins Without Bruce Smith

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.