Cold Winds of Losing May Leave Chargers Caught in Warm Draft

It’s small consolation, but it’s better than nothing.

The Chargers’ three-game losing streak has propelled them into contention in the NFL draft sweepstakes. They now rank fourth, and have an outside chance of climbing to No. 1 in the three games remaining.

True, for the Chargers to earn the first pick in the draft is strictly a longshot. Besides having to lose their last three games, they would need one victory each by the New York Jets and Detroit Lions and at least one, probably two, by the Atlanta Falcons.

Still, it could happen, and even if No. 1 were to be out of reach, No. 2 would be a strong possibility, and that might be just as good since there is no single standout in the 1990 draft.

Actually, the Dallas Cowboys have the worst record, 1-12, but they don’t have a first-round choice because they used it to take quarterback Steve Walsh of Miami of Florida in the supplemental draft last summer. This means that the Falcons, at 3-10, have the undisputed lead with three games remaining.

The Chargers’ 4-9 record ties them with the New York Jets and Detroit Lions for second place among the eligible teams, but they rank only fourth because the tie-breaking system is based on weakness of schedule. The theory is that a team playing poorer opponents than one with the same record is the weaker of the two.

Through 13 weeks, the Chargers’ 16 opponents have a composite won-lost percentage of .538. The Jets and Lions are tied for second at .507. The Falcons’ are at .519, but that will be a factor only if Atlanta wins another game.

It’s conceivable that the Chargers can beat out the Falcons with just one more Atlanta victory. The teams on the Falcons’ schedule would have to fare considerably better than those on the Chargers’ schedule in the closing weeks.

More likely, the Falcons would have to win two games to make the Chargers No. 1, and this probably won’t happen. The Falcons may beat the Lions, but will be decided underdogs against the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins.

In any case, the Chargers figure to get a premium draft choice. For them to win another game, with the Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos left to play, would be an upset.

The Jets and Lions, on the other hand, could very well win a game apiece. The Jets have a good shot against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Lions will play nothing but sub-.500 teams--the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Falcons.

Here are the rankings, with each team’s record, opponents’ composite records and games remaining:

1. Atlanta (3-10)--108-100 (.519). Sunday, at Minnesota; Dec. 17, Washington; Dec. 24, Detroit.

2 (tie). New York Jets (4-9)--105-102-1 (.507). Sunday, Pittsburgh; Dec. 17, at Rams; Dec. 23, Buffalo.

2 (tie). Detroit (4-9)--105-102-1 (.507). Sunday, at Chicago; Dec. 17, Tampa Bay; Dec. 24, at Atlanta.

4. San Diego (4-9)--111-95-2 (.538). Sunday, at Washington; Dec. 17, at Kansas City; Dec. 24, Denver.

Charger Coach Dan Henning announced Wednesday that he had changed his mind and promoted Joey Howard instead of Brett Miller to the offensive tackle spot vacated by the demotion of James FitzPatrick for Sunday’s game in Washington.

Joel Patten moved from left tackle to right tackle and Howard took his place on the left side. Earlier in the week, Henning had said that Miller would return to the lineup at right tackle.

A disconsolate FitzPatrick said, “I wish I could take it philosophically, but I’m down right now. It’s pretty depressing.”

Defensive coordinator Ron Lynn has been mentioned as a candidate for the vacant coaching job at Wisconsin.

Asked if he had been contacted, Lynn said, “No, but I’m flattered. I’d like to be a head coach sometime. I don’t know how, when or where.”

Charger Notes

Running back Marion Butts of the Chargers left after Wednesday’s workout for Sylvester, Ga., to attend the funeral of his mother, Mary Jane Butts, who died Tuesday at 46. The funeral will be held Saturday, and Butts will fly to Washington afterward to rejoin the team. . . . Running back Dana Brinson, who was cut last week, was signed for the six-man developmental squad. He took the place of running back Victor Floyd, who was put on injured reserve because of a knee injury that will require surgery. . . . The Chargers issued a brief injury report for Sunday: linebacker David Brandon (hamstring), questionable, and cornerback Elvis Patterson (shoulder) and linebacker Jim Collins (back), probable. . . . The Redskins listed safety Alvin Walton (shoulder) as doubtful, linebackers Brian Bonner (knee) and Kurt Gouvela (knee) as questionable and running back Earnest Byner (ribs) as probable.