Chargers vs Jaguars: What Effect Will Jack Del Rio Firing Have on Monday Night?

When the Jacksonville Jaguars fired long-time head coach Jack Del Rio last week it signaled that the franchise was shifting in a new direction. Tonight, the 3-8 Jags welcome the San Diego Chargers to town, and if anything, Del Rio's firing should have a positive effect on the team.

Everyone in football knew Del Rio wouldn't be Jacksonville's coach next year. After what was setting up to be another incredibly disappointing season, he had to go. 

How bad have the Jaguars been? Well they are currently averaging an NFL-low 12.5 points per game and boast the league's worst passing offense (averaging just 131.3 yards per game). Meanwhile, even with Maurice Jones-Drew doing his thing, the running game has been average at best, averaging 118.7 yards per game.

The sad part is, the Jags don't have a terrible defense, so if they had any life at all offensively things might be different.

Tonight could go one of two ways, either the Jaguars will come out lethargic acting as if they've given up on the season, or they will come out fired up, knowing that they are all playing for their jobs. 

Whoever the next coach is in Jacksonville will almost certainly look closely at the tape of these last few games and decide who was just showing up to pickup a paycheck and who was playing with fire and spirit.

For some reason I get the feeling that this Jaguars team will come out with some energy tonight and will play as if they have something to prove.