The Most Important Game on the 49ers Schedule
The 2025-2026 NFL schedule release was yesterday, and the 49ers have a much more favorable schedule than in years past with the easiest strength of schedule in the league this upcoming season. They will be looking to bounce back from what was an ugly 2024 campaign where they had a Super Bowl hangover. I think San Francisco is a team with the most variance in the entire NFL. In the Kyle Shanahan era, the 49ers have made it to the NFC Championship game or missed the playoffs in their entirety. There seems to be no in between for this team and it won’t change this season with the schedule they were handed.
San Francisco and the rest of the NFC West face both the AFC South and NFC South, which have been viewed as the worst divisions in each conference for the last few years. The team will also face opponents that finished the 2024 season in last place in their respective divisions. Those matchups are important to take advantage of. However, the matchups I would have circled on the calendar for the 49ers are all six divisional games. Both the Cardinals and Rams swept the 49ers in 2024. The team went 1-5 in NFC West battles with their lonely win coming from a Week Six victory against Seattle. They won two consecutive division titles in 2022 and 2023 and it will be necessary for them to return to that form if they want to hit the ground running.
Luckily, they will be tested early and often as they face all three division rivals in the first five weeks of the season. This could be a blessing in disguise as they can find out who they are as a team immediately. However, the division hasn’t become any easier as every team improved mightily in the offseason. The Cardinals solidified their defensive identity with the additions of Josh Sweat, Calais Campbell, Walter Nolen, and Will Johnson while the Rams and Seahawks each added key offensive weapons in Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp. This stretch could easily determine the trajectory of the entire season.
I find the Week One matchup against Seattle their most important game. When looking at the matchup, the Seahawks are a new look team in Mike MacDonald’s second season as head coach. The offense has been revitalized with the revamped wide receiver room and the major change from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold at quarterback. Their defensive talent has improved as well with another year in MacDonald’s scheme. For San Francisco, it is crucial they start with convincing and gutsy division wins to boost themselves ahead early into the season.
There should be no questions about improvements on the defense with the return of Robert Saleh. However, the 49ers’ success will be influenced by the performance of their future highly-paid quarterback. Brock Purdy needs to take the next step as a franchise quarterback while tight end George Kittle becomes the focal point of the offense. With questions about Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk’s availability and reliability throughout the season, the 2025 season for the 49ers will be intriguing for the team’s biggest stars.
