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Rob Johnson knows fans on both sides of the Great Quarterback Controversy have been pointing to Sunday since the National Football League released its 2001 schedule last spring.
He also knows that the debate over the relative worth of he and Doug Flutie won't end after the Buffalo Bills visit the San Diego Chargers, whatever the outcome.
"Fans are going to support who they want to support," Johnson said, referring to the Flutiephiles who won't, or can't, move on. "I don't think this will change anything."
Several newspapers run a box comparing the stats of the two quarterbacks. Flutie fans flood television stations in Buffalo and Rochester with calls, demanding to replace scheduled regional telecasts with San Diego games. And after each Chargers win, radio talk shows are besieged with gloating supporters.
"It's very flattering and it's very nice," Flutie said of his continued support in Western New YOrk. "It just seems similar to what went on in New England after I left the Patriots. Because of my size and being the average-size joe out there, that they sympathize with you ... I don't know what it is."
While some here pine away for Flutie, he's quite happy in Charger-land, the first place he's been the undisputed, unquestioned starter.
"It's comfortable," Flutie said of his new status. "It allows you to just focus on preparing for each week. If i need to rest my arm a day, I do it. You just worry about getting better and not impressing coaches on a daily basis."
San Diego's 4-2 start under Flutie fueled Johnson's detractors, particularly with the Bills' quarterback of choice getting knocked out of Buffalo's first four games, all losses.
Of course, it helps that San Diego possesses the league's fifth-rated defense through six weeks, as well as the second-best giveaway/takeaway total (plus-10). Then there's LaDainian Tomlinson, the top rookie running back in the NFL.
But ask a Flutie fan, and there's only one reason for San Diego's hot start. And he wears No. 7.
In reality, the other ex-Bills who make up what amounts to Buffalo West have had just as much to do with it. General Manager John Butler, with $20 million in salary-cap space to play with, also signed defensive end Marcellus Wiley and linebacker Sam Rogers during the free-agency period, then picked up John Holecek after Buffalo waived the inside linebacker. Butler also hired A.J. Smith, Buffalo's long-time director of pro personnel, for the same job in San Diego.
Rogers and Holecek have mainly served in reserve roles and on special teams, but Wiley has four sacks in as many games after missing the first two with a stress fracture in his foot. The Chargers have produced 11 sacks in the last three contests.
"We needed another pass rusher. We didn't have Marcellus (last year) and Raylee Johnson, our leading pass rusher from the year before, was out for the season," said San Diego coach Mike Riley. "Now we've got Raylee and Marcellus and that's been a great combination for us."
Butler's most impactful moves had nothing to do with Buffalo. He signed Ryan McNeil away from Dallas. The cornerback responded to the move with an NFL-high six interceptions through six games.
Butler also swapped the first pick in the draft to Atlanta in return for the Falcons' No. 1 pick (which he used to select Tomlinson), their third pick this year (which became cornerback Tay Cody, who cracked San Diego's lineup as a rookie), a No. 2 in the 2002 draft and receiver/kicker returner Tim Dwight (who has 12 catches for an 18.4 average as the Chargers' third wideout).
Flutie was solid, but not magical, in San Diego's four wins. Of course, he didn't need to be -- the Chargers' average margin of victory has been 17 points. In the two losses, San Diego blew fourth-quarter leads to Cleveland and New England.
The trip to Qualcomm Stadium comes 10 days after Buffalo's first win of the season. The Bills' 13-10 win in Jacksonville has to help their confidence after starting the year with four straight homogenously dismal performances, but it won't mean much more come kickoff time.
"This defense is better than the one we played last week," Johnson said. "We didn't run the ball very well and had protection breakdowns. We can't look at one win and say, 'Oh, everything is fixed.'"
It took Travis Henry 27 carries to scrape out 63 yards against the Jaguars, but Buffalo's persistence in the running game helped control the ball for more than 35 minutes and blunt Jacksonville's pass rush.
As a result, Johnson went 23-of-30 passing for 238 yards and was sacked just twice (after absorbing 14 in the first four games). He also helped himself by making quick decisions and moving well in the pocket.
"Rob did a great job protecting himself," Williams said. "He did a great job of buying himself time with his feet."
Buffalo's defense also delivered its best outing of the year in Jackonville, holding the Jaguars to 247 total yards and coming up with two key interceptions.
Last week, Denver tried to blitz Flutie, but got burnt for two key touchdown passes late in San Diego's 27-10 win. Buffalo figures to utilize what has become a more conventional approach to defensing Flutie.
"You want to keep them in there and mamke sure they throw the football," Williams said of coping with mobile quarterbacks. "The pass rush has to be contain pressure. A lot of it is making sure what throws you allow a quarterback to make, with your techniques in pressure and coverage.
"We have done things and gone back to years past, even three years past, on film. The things that people were successful with, we went back and looked at. The players will have a confidence level that the plan we'll use has been successful before."
Despite the Johnson-Flutie dynamic and lingering bitterness toward Butler by Bills owner Ralph Wilson, Sunday's game won't finalize the 2001 fate of either team (though a San Diego win would further dampen any hope of Buffalo getting back in the AFC East race).
"The bottom line, is I don't play Rob and Butler doesn't play Wilson," Flutie said. "I'm preparing like its a regular game. I can't try any harder than I did last week, so you just prepare for the game and go through it."
The Bills, a seven-point underdog, have had an extra three days to prepare. And something tells me Williams and general manager Tom Donahoe have put a little extra emphasis on this one, not wanting to look like they made the wrong quarterback decision last winter (and not wanting to explain to Wilson why they couldn't beat his nemesis).
With San Diego coming off an emotional division game, this is a prime opportunity for them to avoid all that explaining.
Bills, 24-21.
Indianapolis (-3) at Kansas City: If the Colts can't get it together against the staggering Chiefs, we'll know their two stinkers against New England weren't flukes. Colts, 30-20.
Jacksonville at Baltimore (-8): Returning home should help the Ravens end their two-game losing streak, but these two always play close games -- the last four have been decided by seven points or fewer. Ravens, 19-17.
Minnesota at Tampa Bay (-3 1/2): The Vikings are starting to roll. As usual, the Bucs are still looking for their offense. Vikings, 27-20.
Cincinnati at Detroit (-3): If the Lions don't win this one, Matt Millen should think seriousy about returning to broadcasting. Lions, 24-14.
San Francisco at Chicago (-2): The NFL's two most surprising teams bring 4-1 records to Soldier Field. A tough defense playing at home gives Chicago the edge. Bears, 20-16.
New Orleans at St. Louis (-12 1/2): The Saints defend Kurt Warner as well as anyone. Which still won't be good enough to win. Rams, 30-27.
N.Y. Jets (-2 1/2) at Carolina: New York leads the league with a plus-16 giveaway/takeaway total, while no one has thrown more interceptions than rookie Carolina quarterback Chris Weinke's 10. Bad combination for the Panthers. Jets, 28-23.
Arizona (-1) at Dallas: At least this mess isn't on Monday night. Cardinals, 15-11.
Oakland at Philadelphia (-1 1/2): Donovan McNabb made the difference last week against the Giants and gives Philly the edge in this one. Eagles, 23-20.
New England at Denver (-8): The Patriots gain confidence every week, particularly in rookie quarterback Tom Brady (who has yet to throw an interception in 131 attempts). Denver, a preseason Super Bowl favorite, looked lost against the Chargers, but pulls one out at home. Broncos, 20-17.
Miami (-2 1/2) at Seattle: Both teams come off their bye week, but Seattle won two straight going in, while the Dolphins had an extra week to ponder their collapse against the Jets. Seahawks, 26-24.
N.Y. Giants (-8) at Washington: The Redskins finally won one against equally feeble Carolina, a week after getting nipped by the bumbling Cowboys. The Giants are a bit better than any of the three. Giants, 30-17.
Tennessee at Pittsburgh (-3): Monday nights at Three Rivers Stadium were brutal for visitors. Heinz Field doesn't figure to be much easier. Steelers, 17-9.