PLAYOFF NOTES : Loud Talk by Miami Irks Smith

Buffalo defensive end Bruce Smith, the NFL’s defensive player of the year, seemed more upset than happy after the Bills’ 44-34 victory Saturday.

“Part of what inspired us was the fact that we got a tape of (a television interview with Miami’s rookie guard Keith Sims) where he said that (Bills’ linebacker) Cornelius Bennett and myself were ‘soft.’

“He said he thought they could run over us. That really (angered me). It embarrassed me and really (angered me). If you’re gonna talk trash, you better be able to back it up. After the last time we played them, they didn’t give us any respect. They said they played bad. All we want is respect.”

The Bills went with a no-huddle offense for the entire game. Coach Marv Levy said he intended to use the ploy some of the time, but stayed with it after the Bills’ early offensive successes.

“We planned to start with it, but we were having so much success, we just stuck with it,” he said.

Unlike Cincinnati, which pioneered the no-huddle offense, the Bills make no effort to catch opponents with too many men on the field while they are trying to send in situational defenses. Quarterback Jim Kelly takes his time, but the Bills’ offense still seems to thrive on the rhythm.

The 49ers got a lift from wide receiver Mike Sherrard, who has been battling leg injuries for several years and hadn’t suited up since the Cleveland game Oct. 28.

Sherrard caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Joe Montana in the second quarter and caught three passes for 16 yards overall.

The Redskins were dealt a big blow when running back Earnest Byner was sidelined in the second quarter because of a sprained shoulder. Byner, who had averaged more than 100 yards on the ground the past six games, returned late but missed the key portions of the game.

Before the injury, Byner carried 12 times for 51 yards. After he went to the sideline, Gerald Riggs could muster only 18 yards in 10 carries.

The 49ers used some chicanery for a big gain that set up their second touchdown. From the Washington 34-yard line, fullback Harry Sydney took the ball, veered right, then stopped and floated one up to tight end Brent Jones, who was being covered by safety Alvin Walton.

“I didn’t know a ball could be thrown that high,” Jones said.

When the ball did come down, Jones out-jumped Walton to make the catch, and the 49ers had a 28-yard gain to the Redskin six.

“We had a lottery during practice last week to see who was going to throw that pass, and Harry, well, he’s an ex-quarterback,” Montana said.

Said Sydney: “Once a quarterback, always a quarterback. I heard somebody say it looked like a fair catch.”

Times staff writer Tim Kawakami contributed to this story.