Chargers are Sad Jets Have Gone

How about the New England Patriots?

They’re 1-11. That’s even worse than the New York Jets, who left San Diego with a 4-9 record after the Chargers clubbed them, 38-17, Sunday.

“If we didn’t have the fifth-place schedule, maybe we’d have a chance to play New England,” Charger Coach Dan Henning said. “But we don’t.”

So the New York Jets are the next best thing. The Chargers will miss them.

This happened once already this season. The Chargers had lost consecutive games to the Houston Oilers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then they went East to play the Jets on Oct. 14 and won, 39-3.

Losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks preceded Sunday’s victory, which kept the Chargers’ playoff hopes flickering. The candle will go out with one more loss.

Three games remain: the Broncos in Denver, the Chiefs in San Diego and the Raiders in Los Angeles. What remains to be seen is whether the Chargers can do the same nice things against their remaining opponents as they did against their favorite team from New York.

Among the good Sunday was the play of receiver Nate Lewis, who caught four passes for 89 yards and scored two touchdowns, and, of course, running back Marion Butts, who ran for 159 yards in 26 carries.

Butts also provided a bit of late game excitement when the outcome had been decided with his 52-yard run in the fourth quarter. He also gave reporters a laugh with his explanation of why he was caught from behind by Jet safety Erik McMillan on that run.

“I have a little speed,” he said. “McMillan, hey, he’s a 4.2 guy.”

Butts was told that McMillan actually runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9.

“McMillan?” he said. “Oh, nooooo. No. McMillan is 4.2.”

Whatever you say, Marion. Anyway, Butts continues to be the steadiest performer on an offense that is still looking for more consistency from its leader, quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver.

As usual, Tolliver was up and down Sunday, throwing strikes on some occasions and missing open receivers on others.

“We think he’s coming along,” Charger Coach Dan Henning said. “He made plays to help us win the game. He made one play that could have cost us dearly, and that was waiting too long to throw that ball that was intercepted.”