The San Francisco 49ers schedule has officially been released. The 49ers are set to have five prime-time games this season. The 49ers made it all the way to the NFC Championship game last season and still have their eyes on the Super Bowl. Here is a breakdown of the 49ers 2023 schedule.
49ers 2023 Schedule
Week 1: @ Steelers
To open the season, the San Francisco 49ers will head to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers. The last time these two faced was in 2019 when the 49ers won 24-20. Some questions heading into this game will be who is starting at quarterback for the 49ers. San Francisco has started slow the past couple of seasons, but hopefully, for them, they start off strong against the Steelers. The 49ers’ defense can make a splash early in the season as quarterback Kenny Pickett is in just his second year.
San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner (54) – Elsa/Getty Images
Week 2: @ Rams
Week two of the 49ers 2023 schedule had the team versing the Los Angeles Rams. This is also San Francisco’s second away game. The 49ers have swept the Los Angeles Rams for the past three seasons and will want that to continue. Last season the Rams were riddled with injuries. While it is only week two, any game against an NCF West opponent is an important one.
Week 3: vs. Giants TNF
The first Thursday Night Football game for the San Francisco 49ers will be against the New York Giants. It is also the first home game on the 49ers 2023 schedule. The last time the 49ers faced the Giants was in 2020, when San Francisco won 36-9. The first home game of the season also being a prime-time game could give the 49ers the edge in this game as well.
Week 4: vs Cardinals
In week four, the 49ers 2023 schedule has them facing their second NFC West opponent of the year in Arizona. The 49ers swept the Cardinals in 2022, one of the games being in Mexico City. It is unknown when Kyler Murray will be cleared to play by then after sustaining a season-ending injury in December. Already facing two NFC West teams by week four can set the tone for the division pretty early.
San Francisco 49ers WR Deebo Samuel (19) – Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Week 5: vs. Cowboys SNF
The Cowboys will return to the Bay Area once again in week five for Sunday Night Football. These two last faced in the playoffs in January, where the 49ers won 19-12. While it is only week five, these two teams, and fanbases, will make this game a big one. This is already the second prime-time game on the 49ers 2023 schedule, and it will be a good one. Fans have already stated across social media platforms that they will be buying tickets for this matchup.
Week 6: @ Browns
In week six, the 49ers will head to Cleveland to face the Browns. The last time these two teams faced was in 2019 and San Francisco won 31-3. This game can depend on what kind of player Dashaun Watson will be. If he is the pre-2020 quarterback, it could be a close matchup, but if he plays similarly to 2022, the 49ers’ defense can stand strong and get the win.
Week 7: @ Vikings MNF
By week seven, the 49ers will be playing their third prime-time game already. The last time the 49ers and Vikings faced off was in the 2021 season when the 49ers won 34-26. Last season, the 49ers and Vikings raced for the second seed, eventually ending with the 49ers taking it. If the two teams’ seasons are anything like 2022, this could be a close game. Hopefully, for San Francisco, the running joke about quarterback Kirk Cousins not playing well in prime-time sticks.
Week 8: vs Bengals
In week eight, the 49ers will return home to face the Cincinnati Bengals. This will be a tough matchup after both lost in their divisional championship game last season. The last time these two faced off, the 49ers won in overtime 26-23 in 2022. While the two are from separate divisions, both have been striving for a Super Bowl ring for the past couple of years, which makes every game an important one. This game will also be a big test for the 49ers’ secondary defense against Joe Burrow and his receivers.
49ers vs. Bengals – Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: @ Jag
Following the bye week, the 49ers will head to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars. While some wondered if this would be one of the games overseas, the 49ers will not have to travel this season. The last time these two faced was in 2021 when the 49ers won 30-10. This is an interesting game on the 49ers 2023 schedule. The last time these two faced, the 49ers had complete control, and the San Francisco fans took over their stadium. This is a very different Jaguars team now, as they made it to the divisional round in 2022.
Week 11: vs Buccaneers
The tenth game on the 49ers 2023 schedule is against the Buccaneers. The last time these two faced was just last season, also at Levi’s. The 49ers won 35-7, and it was also Brock Purdy’s first-ever start for San Francisco. One difference is who Tampa Bay’s quarterback will be. With the retirement of Tom Brady, the projected starter will be Baker Mayfield. The last time the 49ers faced Mayfield was in their win last season against the Carolina Panthers. If things go anyway similar to 2022, the 49ers should be able to get the win over Tampa Bay.
Week 12: @ Seahawks TNF (Thanksgiving)
The next prime-time game is against the Seattle Seahawks. This is not just the second Thursday Night Football game on the 49ers 2023 schedule; it is also on Thanksgiving. The last time either of these two teams played on Thanksgiving was actually against each other in 2014. The Seahawks got the win that time around. This will be a big game, as it is week 12, between NFC West rivals. There could very well be playoff implications at this point.
Week 13: @ Eagles
Following their game against the Seahawks, the 49ers will head to Philly for an NFC Championship rematch. The good news about playing on Thanksgiving is the 49ers will have a little longer break between these two away games. The last time these two faced, the Eagles got the best of San Francisco. This was a game on the 49ers 2023 schedule that many were eager to mark down. This was the first 49ers matchup announced via the 49ers’ Twitter a day earlier than the full schedule release. Hopefully this time around, the 49ers will have a quarterback playing in the game.
Week 14: vs Seahawks
By week 14, the 49ers and Seahawks face each other again. Now by week 14, and it being the second time these two face, this will be a crucial game. The matchup can be a big indicator of how the NFC West will line up. No matter how each team is playing throughout the season, a 49ers vs. Seahawks game is always a tough battle.
Week 15: @ Cardinals
In week 15 on the 49ers 2023 schedule, the 49ers will head to Arizona to face the Cardinals. Similarly to the Seahawks, this game will be critical being an NFC West matchup. The Cardinals were not great playing at home in 2022, as they went 1-8. If this continues, the 49ers could be set up well. In week 15, a major focus is clinching playoffs or improving seeding, and this will be a big divisional game.
San Francisco 49ers Kerry Hyder Jr – Michael Zagaris/Getty Images
Week 16: vs. Ravens MNF (Christmas)
The fifth prime-time game on the 49ers 2023 schedule will be against the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas. This will be Monday Night Football. While the Ravens are in the AFC, this could be the chance for the 49ers to potentially improve their seeding or clinch playoffs. The last time these two faced was in 2019 when the Ravens won 20-17. The Ravens added a lot of weapons on their offense, and this will be a big game for both teams.
Week 17: @ Commanders (New Year’s Eve)
In week 17 on the 49ers 2023 schedule, the team will head to Washington to face the Commanders. These two teams faced in 2022 when the 49ers won 37-20. In early predictions, the Commanders are expected to be among the worst teams in the NFL. Anything can change from now and then, but hopefully, the 49ers can take advantage and get a large win in the late stretch of the season.
Week 18: vs Rams
The final game on the 49ers 2023 schedule is against the LA Rams. By the last game, the playoff teams are pretty decided, but there is a chance this game can dictate other factors. Even if both teams are locked in a certain place, the 49ers will want to beat one of their NFC West rivals. The final game will also be at home, which can give the 49ers the edge.
When looking at the 49ers 2023 schedule, it is a lot of traveling, but when basing it on last season, the 49ers should win most of the games. If the 49ers remain healthy, they should be able to get through this schedule well with a record prediction of 14-3.
