The 49ers will kick off the regular season on the road on September 8 with a visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That won't be an easy matchup and would have been made easier had it been the home opener in Santa Clara, but it is a winnable game. Then it's off for a visit to the Cincinnati Bengals, which should be an easier opponent.
The 49ers' first game at Levi's Stadium comes in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That will likely be a tough outing.
None of these matchups are reasons why San Francisco's schedule ranks among the toughest in the NFL, though, according to ESPN's recent adjusted ranking compiled by Football Outsiders. It's adjusted because it factors in the timing for each matchup. For example, is your team going against an opponent who is coming off of a bye week? Is your team coming off a bye week itself? Maybe your opponent is coming off of a Thursday-night game and is well-rested. There is a clear advantage in both scenarios. ESPN factored those into this ranking.
The 49ers have the sixth-hardest schedule, according to the adjusted ranking. San Francisco's toughest stretch, per ESPN and Football Outsiders, comes from Weeks 12 through 14 when it plays the Green Bay Packers (coming off their bye), Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints (coming off a Thursday-night game).
The ESPN feature also notes that the 49ers play two teams coming off bye weeks in the Carolina Panthers (Week 8) and Packers (Week 12), two teams coming off Thursday-night games in the Los Angeles Rams (Week 6) and Saints (Week 14), and play a Thursday-night road game themselves against the Arizona Cardinals (Week 9). Those factors moved the 49ers from the No. 11 spot in average DVOA of opponents to No. 6 in the adjusted ranking.
Click here to read the entire feature at ESPN.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
John Lynch: 49ers expect NFL to ease back end of grueling 2026 schedule
The NFL isn't doing the San Francisco 49ers any favors in 2026. With two international games on the schedule, the 49ers are projected to log a historic amount of travel — potentially setting the record for most miles traveled by a team in a single NFL season. San Francisco... -
49ers expected to break NFL travel record with grueling 2026 schedule
The NFL has officially announced that the San Francisco 49ers will host a regular-season game in Mexico City during the 2026 NFL season, with the matchup expected to take place in Week 13 or 14 at Estadio Banorte. That won't be the only international trip on the 49ers'... -
49ers reportedly hiring Jerry Gray for key defensive coach role
The San Francisco 49ers continue reshaping their defensive staff under head coach Kyle Shanahan and new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the 49ers are expected to hire veteran assistant Jerry Gray to replace former defensive backs... -
Where 49ers QB Brock Purdy landed in PFF's top 101 players of 2025
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy appeared in just nine games during the 2025 NFL season, missing eight contests due to a turf toe injury suffered in Week 1. Still, the former final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft did more than enough to earn recognition from Pro Football...