Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he plans to treat Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers, coached by his younger brother Jim, like any other game. The two teams are very similar. Both play outstanding defense. The 49ers appear to be where the Ravens are headed with a ball-control offense.
Both coaches are extremely competitive and intense.
"I don't know if I'll be able to think about it like that," John Harbaugh said when asked about preparing a game plan to beat his brother. "I'm sure, in the back of my mind, maybe that'll be a consideration. But, it's two really good football teams going at it. That's what it's really about. I think, for our parents, it's good. But, it's going to be the Ravens against the 49ers.
"It's going to be two very good football teams. You look at these players and what these players are going to have to do in a four-day period to get past this game. [They are going to have to] heal up and get prepared for a football game and then play another physical game. Really, it's going to be a very physical game in here on Thursday night. It speaks a lot to the National Football League players and what these guys do. To me, that's the story."