PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- Bobby Ross just rolled his eyes. He figured the question was coming, but clearly had hoped to avoid it.

Ross will lead his present team, the Detroit Lions (2-1), against his former team, the San Diego Chargers (2-1), in the Silverdome on Sunday. It only makes sense he would place just a little emphasis on winning this game.

Right, coach?

"I don't want to talk about that anymore. That's three years in the past," Ross said. "The connection is there, but this is just another game."

Maybe so. But if familiarity breeds contempt, this game could be a dandy. The connections between the two teams go much deeper than Ross.

Chargers center Roman Fortin spent his first two NFL seasons, 1990-91, with the Lions. Quarterback Erik Kramer played for the Lions from 1991-93, and quarterback Jim Harbaugh grew up in Ann Arbor and played for Michigan.

When he was forced out, Ross brought most of his San Diego assistants to Detroit with him. They include offensive coordinator Sylvester Croom, defensive line coach Brian Baker and offensive line coach Jack Henry.

Ron Rivers, who has taken up the bulk of Detroit's running load since Barry Sanders retired, was a college teammate at Fresno State of Chargers wide receiver Charlie Jones. Detroit safety Mark Carrier played with Chargers linebacker Junior Seau at Southern California.

"When the schedule first came out and I saw the Chargers on it, I mentioned it to the coach," Detroit defensive end Robert Porcher said. "He told me, `Yeah, I'll probably be a little more wired that week.' You can't blame him."

Ross, who replaced Wayne Fontes on Jan. 13, 1997, spent the previous five seasons as coach of the Chargers. He led San Diego to a record of 50-36, three playoff appearances, two AFC West titles and the club's first AFC championship.

He hasn't fared that well with Detroit. The Lions went 9-7 in 1997, losing in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit was 5-11 last season.

But so was San Diego.

"It is an important game for both of us because we are both 2-1," Ross said. "The rest of it is not a factor. Everything in this league is tied to winning each and every week. That's the importance of this game."

Even with a bruised elbow and two slightly cracked ribs, Harbaugh remains in charge of the Chargers' feeble offense. Harbaugh was forced out in the first quarter of last week's 21-14 victory over Kansas City. Kramer came off the bench and threw two touchdown passes, but it was the Chargers defense that won the game, intercepting Elvis Grbac four times, two of which set up scores.

"I expect to be able to play on Sunday," Harbaugh said.

The one familiar face Ross was most concerned about belongs to Seau. There are two reasons:

-- Seau, an All-Pro, is a one-man wrecking crew. He has 19 tackles, one sack and a pass defended. He has forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Seau had a game-high 10 tackles in the win over Kansas City.

-- Seau and Ross also happen to be close. As close as the telephone, anyway. Ross doesn't have Seau's number, but Seau has the coach's number. He calls and leaves messages.

"He called after the thing with Barry and left a nice message," Ross said. "He said he liked the way I was handling that, and told me to hang in there."

Seau called again the other day.

"He told me he was a decoy as a tight end," Ross said, laughing a little.

Seau has said repeatedly he enjoys playing for Mike Riley, who became San Diego's 12th coach on Jan. 10 after two seasons at Oregon State. Still, he doesn't hide his admiration and respect for Ross.

"I have a lot of love for Bobby Ross, obviously," Seau said. "I respect him as a coach and as a man. He's going to go down as one of the great coaches here in San Diego, since he's the only one who has taken us to the Super Bowl."

Seau also conceded that not all the San Diego players liked Ross as much as he did. Some, frankly, were glad to see him leave.

"You can't please everyone, not on a football team," Seau said. "But a coach will stand on his record, and Bobby's record in San Diego was a good one."

The Lions would like to emulate it, that's for sure.

SAN DIEGO Season schedule and results

DETROIT Season schedule and results

September 19 @Cincinnati W 34-7 September 26 Indianapolis L 19-27 October 3 Kansas City W 21-14 October 10 @Detroit 1:00pm ET October 17 Seattle 4:05pm ET October 24 Green Bay 4:05pm ET October 31 @Kansas City 1:00pm ET November 7 Denver 4:15pm ET November 14 @Oakland 4:05pm ET November 21 Chicago 4:15pm ET November 28 @Minnesota 1:00pm ET December 5 Cleveland 4:15pm ET December 12 @Seattle 4:05pm ET December 19 @Miami 1:00pm ET December 26 Oakland 4:05pm ET January 2 @Denver 4:15pm ET

September 12 @Seattle W 28-20 September 19 Green Bay W 23-15 September 26 @Kansas City L 21-31 October 10 San Diego 1:00pm ET October 17 Minnesota 1:00pm ET October 24 @Carolina 1:00pm ET October 31 Tampa Bay 8:20pm ET November 7 St. Louis 1:00pm ET November 14 @Arizona 4:15pm ET November 21 @Green Bay 1:00pm ET November 25 Chicago 12:40pm ET December 5 Washington 1:00pm ET December 12 @Tampa Bay 1:00pm ET December 19 @Chicago 1:00pm ET December 25 Denver 4:15pm ET January 2 @Minnesota 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited.