In the lead up to a divisional matchup, many times players describe the upcoming game as a probable “dog fight.”
They mean that it’s going to be tough for both teams because of the familiarity between opponents. It’s going to be a physical game, because teams always get amped up for a team that’s played twice a year. And there’s a high probability for a game that could come down to the last possession.
But there’s a wrinkle to Thursday Night’s contest between Los Angeles and San Francisco. While the players know each other — and the head coaches do, too — there’s a new coaching staff, and new schemes on both sides.