So here it goes…the June forecast for the San Francisco 49ers season that will certainly hold true. What could go wrong? They have three…maybe four quarterbacks now. Is that enough?
Anyway, in poring over the 49ers’ schedule, two overwhelming factors consistently contradict each other:
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The 49ers, who finished the regular season tied for the second-most wins in the league, will face a statistically easier plight in 2023.
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The 14 teams San Francisco faces off against this season are improved as a whole compared to their 2022 rosters.
San Francisco 49ers Game by Game Predictions
49ers TE George Kittle (85) – Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Week 1 Opponent: @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Prediction: Win
This game will be much closer to a coin flip. Pittsburgh is a sound, young team that has a strong identity, building off a 7-2 finish down the stretch last year. In addition, San Francisco has a few major moving parts that could certainly affect the outcome of the game: QB, K, DC… Don’t be surprised if Pittsburgh pulls this one out. The 49ers are also no stranger to slow starts, but in the end, they should get the win.
Week 2 Opponent: @ Los Angeles Rams
Prediction: Win
San Francisco usually handles itself fairly well at Levi South. Los Angeles, after pushing its chips all in for the 2021 championship, is still rebuilding its roster. Sean McVay is a strong enough coach to keep his team afloat and competitive, but the 49ers should outclass Los Angeles.
Week 3 Opponent: Vs. New York Giants
Prediction: Win
The Giants surprised many with their postseason berth this past season, and head coach Brian Daboll is quite respected throughout coaching circles. With that said, his team has specific limitations and defenses will attack the weaknesses New York put on tape in 2022. This San Francisco defense should be able to take on the Giants’ offense, even with Saquon Barkley.
Week 4 Opponent: Vs. Arizona Cardinals
Prediction: Win
Many are predicting Arizona to be the worst team in the entire league this upcoming year. While their roster management and coaching hire certainly raise the eyebrow, the Cardinals weren’t as bad this past season as their dysfunction indicated. The 49ers will also have more rest, as week three will be a Thursday Night Football game for them. With that said, this might be the largest spread of the year in favor of San Francisco.
Week 5 Opponent: Vs. Dallas Cowboys
Prediction: Win
This matchup will be overhyped given the history of these two franchises, but in San Francisco with a home crowd affecting the snap count, Kyle Shanahan’s crew will be the talk of the league after dismantling Dallas in easier fashion than many will expect.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (23) – Josie Lepe/AP Photo
Week 6 Opponent: @ Cleveland Browns
Prediction: Loss
In the first of a disturbing trend, Cleveland hosts San Francisco fresh off its bye. Despite the stigma surrounding the losing franchise, the Browns were much better than their record indicated this past season and should be vastly improved with a full season of Deshaun Watson at the helm. With an early kickoff likely, it seems the perfect recipe for the 49ers’ first stumble.
Week 7 Opponent: @ Minnesota Vikings
Prediction: Win
The Vikings, exposed by the Giants as fraudulent in the first round of the 2022 playoffs, are moving on from Dalvin Cook. Despite nagging shoulder injuries, Cook’s role on the team cannot be understated. Without the threat of a strong run presence, opponents will bracket Justin Jefferson and dial up the pressure on an aging, immobile Kirk Cousins.
Week 8 Opponent: Vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Prediction: Loss
The Bengals have proven over the past two seasons that they are one of the league’s best and certainly have the firepower to expose a green San Francisco secondary. While this matchup is on the West Coast, the 49ers will have a short week to prepare after playing on Monday night in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is coming off a bye week. It will be a battle until the end, but the Bengals have a solid chance of taking the win.
Week 9 BYE
Week 10 Opponent: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Prediction: Loss
Comment: This is a frustrating opponent to open the second half of the season as Jacksonville is a hungry and competent team with an emerging star at quarterback and one of the most underrated coaches in the league. Any advantage San Francisco might have coming off a bye is also nullified by the fact that the Jaguars are coming off a bye as well. The 49ers are the better team when healthy, but this is a sneaky rough spot and the 49ers cannot possibly win all of their coinflip contests.
49er QB Brock Purdy (13) – Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Week 11 Opponent: Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Prediction: Win
This could get ugly quickly. Tampa is trending down with some of its stars questioning the direction of the franchise. With the 49ers’ defense hounding an inexperienced Tampa backfield, San Francisco could pull away by two to three touchdowns. It may look similar to the 2022 game, just less surprising.
Week 12 Opponent: @ Seattle Seahawks
Prediction: Loss
While many in the Bay Area despise Pete Carroll, he is a Hall of Fame coach for a reason. The quick rebuild in Seattle is not talked about enough and his defense tends to give the 49ers fits. Playing on the road, on a short week, on Thanksgiving night will be a tough task for the 49ers as this game has all of the makings of a 17-16 slopfest.
Week 13 Opponent: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Prediction: Loss
The talent acquisition from Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman has been astounding and the system Philadelphia put in place this past year progressively gave them an advantage week-in and week-out. While the Eagles will likely take a step backward given the departure of both coordinators, the Linc is known to be a merciless place to play. If this game was in San Francisco, the 49ers have the edge.
Week 14 Opponent: Vs. Seattle Seahawks
Prediction: Win
With a raucous crowd of its own, San Francisco bounces back to avenge its Thanksgiving loss at Seattle as the 49ers front seven hounds Geno Smith all night. This win, which will ultimately give the 49ers the NFC West crown, catapults the 49ers towards a Super Bowl run if healthy.
Week 15 Opponent: @ Arizona Cardinals
Prediction: Win
Who knows what Arizona will look like at this point? Again, they are better than many give credit for, but if the Jonathan Gannon era is going to work, he will need a season or two to establish his culture. This is also the fourth team to play the 49ers following a bye…
49ers RB Jordan Mason (41) – Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
Week 16 Opponent: Vs. Baltimore Ravens
Prediction: Win
In what some might forecast as a potential super bowl preview, the Ravens and their rebuilt passing game come to town. Do not be surprised if this prime-time affair comes down to the final minutes. The Ravens’ new offense against this 49ers defense is going to be a must-watch matchup that will go until the very end.
Week 17 Opponent: @ Washington Commanders
Prediction: Win
Washington has an incredibly talented defense and is not a fun place to play. Unless Sam Howell is the answer at quarterback though, the 49ers’ defense may have one of their best games. Hopefully, by this point, San Francisco is only fighting for seeding, but it is a safe game for San Francisco to begin to lose out the season with. As long as the team does not fall into any trap, this should be a win.
Week 18 Opponent: Vs. Los Angeles Rams
Prediction: Win
The assumption is that this game is all about seeding and wanting to take down an NFC West rival. The 49ers will remain focused and play much more physically than Los Angeles. The team will most likely be attempting to secure the one or two seed in the NFL playoffs. San Francisco would also love to sweep LA for another straight year.
