Chargers vs. Jaguars: Why Philip Rivers, San Diego Must Step Up on Monday Night

With the San Diego Chargers floundering at 4-7 and likely headed for a long offseason full of changes to the team's coaching staff and upper management, the team needs some form of hope. Right now, it has virtually none.

While Philip Rivers hasn't been the only guy to fall short of expectations in San Diego this year, he has been the most visible. He has had such a rough season that many around the league have speculated that he is actually playing injured. Having watched each of Rivers' performances this season, I can say that I believe something is wrong. 

The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler insists he's healthy and has been as hard on himself as anyone. He knows he has to play better for the Chargers to win. 

Tonight against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Chargers need to step up as a team and end their current six-game losing streak. Not to try and save the season or to re-insert themselves into the AFC West picture again—both of those opportunities are long gone—but for the sake of their pride. The Chargers need to show some guts, even in the face of everything that has gone wrong this season. After all, some of them may be playing for their jobs.

San Diego opened the season 4-1 and looked headed for another AFC West championship. Obviously, that isn't in the cards, but the team needs to show some life if it wants to avoid a ridiculous amount of roster turnover in the offseason.

Reports have surfaced that head coach Norv Turner will (finally!) be fired after the season and that general manager A.J. Smith could likely follow him out the door. Firing Turner will come about three seasons too late for me, but Smith has probably earned his pink slip this year. 

New management will likely bring changes to the roster, and the current Chargers need to prove they belong. That process has to start tonight in Jacksonville.