The Defense Can’t Quite Get It Right : Chargers: It again plays well but can’t keep the opposition out of the end zone when it counts. The result is another statistically attractive loss.

Another Sunday afternoon with the Chargers. Another second-half lead, another blown game.

New York Jets 20, Chargers 17.

It is Week 13, and it is becoming difficult to tell if these games are originals or part of the rerun season.

See if this sounds familiar: The Charger defense is playing well. Some sacks, some interceptions, some pretty big plays. The Chargers take a lead, 10-7. It is late in the third quarter. Then the Jets get the ball back and take flight.

Statistically, it was another good game for the Charger defense: Five sacks, three interceptions, one fumble recovery and several quarterback pressures. And for the 11th week in a row, the defense held its opponent to 20 or fewer points.

But the Chargers have been able to win just four of those games.

“You can look at the statistics and say the defense played well,” said cornerback Gill Byrd. “But I’ll tell you what. We had ‘em down, 10-7. And then they drove down the field two consecutive times to score.”

After Chris Bahr’s 39-yard field goal gave the Chargers their only lead of the afternoon, New York’s ensuing drive ended in a punt. But the next two times they got the ball, the 4-9 Jets were made to look like Super Bowl contenders by the Charger defense.

--New York takes over at the Charger 47 with 12:57 remaining and scores a touchdown in seven snaps. Big plays? Look around. Pat Ryan passes to Al Toon for 12 yards. Roger Vick breaks through left tackle for 12. Johnny Hector goes through the left tackle for 10. Suddenly, the Jets are at the Charger 13. And soon, it is 14-10, Jets.

--New York takes over at the San Diego 16 about a minute later after Erik McMillan’s 40-yard interception return. On the second play, Vick takes off around right end and goes 14 yards for a touchdown. Jets, 20-10.

Yes, opponents find it difficult to score more than 20 on the Chargers. But they sure do find it easy to score in the fourth quarter. In six of the Chargers’ seven losses during the 20-points-or-less streak, opponents have won with significant fourth-quarter drives.

“It seems we get lackadaisical when we get ahead, and I don’t know why,” Byrd said. “That’s when we should play harder. We don’t have that killer instinct.”

Notice any changes on the field when your team takes the lead?

“In atmosphere, no,” Byrd said. “The only change I notice is that the yardsticks are moving.”

Byrd, Sam Seale and Lester Lyles all had interceptions Sunday. Byrd’s was his sixth of the season, tying him for the AFC lead.

Lee Williams had two sacks, moving him ahead of teammate Leslie O’Neal for the AFC lead with 12 and giving him sole possession of second place on the Chargers’ all-time list with 55 1/2 (Gary Johnson is the leader with 67).

Free safety Vencie Glenn got another sack on a second-quarter blitz, and Les Miller had 1 1/2. Burt Grossman got credit for the other half sack.

O’Neal also recovered a fumble, which led to the Chargers’ final touchdown.

Miller’s sack actually took a touchdown away from the Chargers. It came on the second-to-last play of the third quarter with the Chargers ahead, 10-7. Ryan attempted a pass just after Miller reached him, and the ball landed in Williams’ hands. Williams took off and rumbled about 40 yards to the end zone, but the referees ruled Ryan had been in Miller’s grasp and therefore down.

“I heard the whistle,” Charger Coach Dan Henning said. “I didn’t think there was any question. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. I just wish he would have thrown it before he was in the grasp.”

Said Miller: “I do, too. I apologized to Lee because I sure wish we had that touchdown.”

At any rate, Williams, 6-feet-5 1/2, 271 pounds, looked pretty good on the run.

“Next time we need a big back, we might have to fish around and use him,” Henning said.

That was about the only dose of humor that could be found in a Charger dressing room.

“It’s getting to be habit-forming,” Lyles said. “Somewhere along the line, we’ve got to break it. It’s like smoking--if you want to break it bad enough, you will.”

Two lockers down, Seale dressed quickly.

“We gave them 20 points,” he said. “That’s too many points. Maybe we need to make some changes . . . something. I don’t know.”

Seconds later, he headed for the door.

“That’s it for me, man,” he said. “I got to get out of here.”