The San Francisco 49ers were one of the most pleasant surprises in the NFL last season. Last season, the 49ers weren’t expecting to be bad, but they weren’t expecting to be good due to starting a seventh-round pick at quarterback. But now the challenge as people look at 49ers schedule analysis is how do the 49ers follow up last year’s success?
San Francisco returns Brock Purdy, who helped save the 49ers season last year, and will see Purdy compete with former 49ers first-round pick Trey Lance and free agent signee for the starting job. San Francisco will have an interesting batch of decisions to make this offseason.
Here’s a look at the San Francisco 49ers schedule and the challenges ahead.
Road swing will open the schedule
The first two San Francisco 49ers games of the season will take place on the road. The 49ers will have an opportunity to pick up two big wins. San Francisco’s first game will come against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Steel City. The 49ers’ defense will have a good opportunity to torment Pittsburgh second-year quarterback Keny Pickett.
In Week 2, anyone looking to make a 49ers schedule analysis will see San Francisco’s second road game will be against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Finding a way to sweep the first two games would be a nice way to start out a defense of San Francisco’s division title.
A long stretch at home
After opening with two straight road games, playing three straight home games will provide an opportunity to pad the San Francisco 49ers record. The 49ers will have three straight home games against the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys. The Giants and Cowboys each made the playoffs last season.
Not much is expected of the Cardinals this season. Many people making NFC picks believe that Arizona may be one of the worst teams in the NFL.
After-bye week madness
Looking at 49ers schedule analysis will show that four of the six games after their Week 9 bye will be on the road. During that stretch, the 49ers will be tasked with playing their rival, the Seattle Seahawks, twice. San Francisco will have a few other challenges during that stretch as well, including a Week 10 road trip to take on AFC South champion Jacksonville.
Ending with a bang
The Los Angeles Rams are in a transition period. Injuries and a lack of draft picks hurt the team’s NFL odds last season. Los Angeles missed the playoffs last season after winning the Super Bowl two years ago.
Both the 49ers and Rams hope their meeting in Week 18 will be with the NFC West title at stake.
49ers odds
People making NFL picks will see San Francisco’s over/under is set at 10.5 games. The 49ers are expected to defend their division title as they are set at -177. San Francisco has the second-best odds of winning the NFC at +400, behind only Philadelphia.
The 49ers have the fifth-best odds to win the Super Bowl at +1000.
Can San Francisco breakthrough?
The 49ers have been toppled in the NFC Championship game during the past two seasons. San Francisco took a magic carpet ride last season and ultimately made it to the title game by riding rookie quarterback Brock Purdy. The 49ers will have to see if Lance has recovered from his injury enough to take his spot in the lineup.
Having Christian McCaffrey at running back will also be a big boost for San Francisco. The quarterback issues they covered up for last season may be difficult to maintain through an entire season.
Kyle Shanahan is a great coach and should help San Francisco get over its win total this season.
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