How many games do you see the Niners winning this season?
Now that the San Francisco 49ers schedule is here, what better time than to predict the outcome of every single game?
It’s impossible to project what will happen between now and January. We thought the 49ers would go 12-5 when we did this exercise last season. Over 80 percent of you predicted the Niners to go into Lambeau Field and beat the Packers. That might’ve been closer to 8% had you known who the quarterback was.
San Francisco’s schedule is much more favorable this season. They have significant advantages, at least on paper, regarding rest and opponents compared to the first-place Rams’ schedule. The Niners will take on the Bears, Browns, and Giants, while Los Angeles gets the Eagles, Lions, and Ravens.
Will the 49ers turn those differences into wins and a potential playoff berth? Let’s walk through the schedule and find out.
Week 1: @ Seahawks
There’s been enough turnover throughout Seattle’s roster that we can throw out what happened last year. Still, what better time to catch Sam Darnold with a new team on an offense that lost two of its most productive wideouts?
It won’t be easy. It never is. But I think Darnold is being overvalued for what he did last season in near-perfect circumstances. I suspect Darnold will come back down to earth in 2025.
49ers win. 1-0.
Week 2: @ Saints
Let’s act as if Tyler Shough, the Van Wilder of this draft class, wins the job. And that Kelvin Banks Jr., the player Mykel Williams gave fits this past season, both start. I’m surprised the NFL gave Shough credit for excelling in an offense created by the Sean McVay of college. I suspect Shough will struggle mightily, especially if he starts early on.
When you look at the Saints on the other side of the ball, you’ll notice they’re going into the season with Isaac Yiadom starting at cornerback.
49ers win. 2-0.
Week 3: vs. Cardinals
The 49ers’ home opener is against a team that swept them in 2024. They will begin the season against the Saints and the Panthers. Arizona might enter Week 3 fat and happy after a 2-0 start—not unlike the Niners.
The difference is Week 18 meant nothing, and the 49ers blew a fourth-quarter lead after handling the Cardinals for much of the game. Robert Saleh should flex his muscles in this matchup and force Kyler Murray to throw it to an area where he can’t see — the middle of the field.
49ers win. 3-0.
Week 4: vs. Jaguars
The 49ers get the Jaguars off a divisional game against the Texans, where they have to fly across the country. Jacksonville should be much improved offensively with Brian Thomas Jr. in Year 2 and selecting Travis Hunter to surround Trevor Lawrence. This will be a game where the secondary is challenged, but the offense shouldn’t have a problem moving the ball up and down the field against Jacksonville’s defense, giving the Niners quite the start to the season.
49ers win. 4-0.
Week 5: @ Rams
Off what will be one of the softest schedules in the first month of the season, the 49ers face their first step up in class of the season. It comes on a short week against a quality team. The Rams will have faced the Colts in Week 4 at home, so they don’t have to travel back home on a short week.
I think we’ll see a lower-scoring game, like in Week 15 last year, when the Rams prevailed after Jake Moody missed a game-tying kick to send it to extras.
49ers lose. 4-1.
Week 6: @ Buccaneers
The 49ers get a well-timed mini-bye, while Tampa Bay will have just faced Philadelphia and Seattle and will be traveling from the West Coast.
I don’t believe the Bucs match up well with the 49ers. I think highly of Baker Mayfield and think he’ll keep the game competitive, but I’m not sure enough upgrades were made in the offseason for Tampa Bay to make strides to compete with the upper-echelon teams in the league. Is it fair to put the 49ers in that tier after last season? No. But I’ll take Kyle Shanahan against Todd Bowles.
49ers win. 5-1.
Week 7: vs. Falcons
The Falcons might win the division by default, but how much better will they be, and will they be able to avoid going full Falcon in close games? I have my doubts despite being intrigued by Michael Penix.
Unless you believe that Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. will wreck the 49ers offensive line, this is another matchup and spot that bodes well for the 49ers.
Atlanta will just have faced Josh Allen at home on Monday night, so hopefully, they come in a little beat up on a short week. The Falcons will be embarrassed on primetime in back-to-back weeks.
49ers win. 6-1.
Week 8: @ Texans
The 49ers get another opponent off a short week. Houston will have just played in Seattle on Monday Night. Still, I think this spot is where the Niners slip up on the road.
C.J. Stroud has a budding star at wide receiver in Nico Collins. They have a pair of stud rookie wideouts who will help take pressure off Collins. Plus, I think Stroud looks more like the player he showed he was as a rookie.
On the other side of the ball, Will Anderson and Derek Stingley are two of the best players at their positions. This will be the 49ers’ first stinker of the season.
49ers lose. 6-2.
Week 9: @ Giants
Traveling to New York after a loss, Saleh gets to take his frustrations out on a rookie quarterback. Or Russell Wilson. We’re not sure which is worse. We are confident the 49ers will leave this game victorious with a lopsided score.
49ers win. 7-2.
Week 10: vs. Rams
The Rams won’t be as fortunate this time—thanks largely to the game not coming down to the final possession. By this part of the season, I’d suspect Los Angeles is a little banged up, and that’ll play right into the hands of the 49ers.
Week 10 will come off as a statement game for the Niners.
49ers win. 8-2.
Week 11: @ Cardinals
After an impressive first half of the season, San Francisco starts the second half on the road in the division. I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to this team. This feels like one of those spots where the Niners come out flat, Kyler Murray runs around and makes enough plays, and the offense never gets off the mat.
The overreaction to this game will be comical, as the result won’t matter in the grand scheme of the season.
49ers lose. 8-3.
Week 12: vs. Panthers
Poor Dave Canales. Bryce Young is likely making strides, but they run into a buzzsaw at Levi’s Stadium with a playoff contender coming off a loss. This one might turn ugly. We’ll be watching something else by the fourth quarter.
49ers win. 9-3.
Week 13: @ Browns
I haven’t decided whether the Browns will overachieve in 2025 or completely bottom out. What I do know is that this will be a weather game, and we know how Brock Purdy has performed in those historically. It’s too good to be true that the 49ers will run through this cupcake schedule without any slip-ups. It feels right to predict an upset against some of the worst teams. So here we are. Another loss in Cleveland. How? I don’t know. But Kyle Shanahan will be fuming as the 49ers head into their bye week with the division all but locked up.
49ers lose. 9-4.
Week 14: Bye
The 49ers get a much-needed breather and look ahead to their second season. From here on out, we see a revitalized, focused team that seems serious about winning the Super Bowl.
Week 15: vs. Titans
After a loss, the 49ers dropped 40+ at home against the Titans in a game in which fans are asking where this offense was a couple of weeks ago in Cleveland.
49ers win. 10-4.
Week 16: @ Colts
The 49ers put on a show against Carolina the last time they were on primetime. We see a simliar movie against the Colts. Brandon Aiyuk has a field day against Sam Womack, and the offense continues to hum at home in a comfortable victory.
49ers win. 11-4.
Week 17: vs. Bears
The division is clinched, but the Bears are a playoff team, and Shanahan wants to stick it to Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. In a higher-scoring game, Chicago comes out swinging. Brock Purdy needs to lead the Niners to a comeback win, and he did in his last regular season game.
The 49ers look like a juggernaut on primetime, and we all forget about the ugly losses from a month ago.
49ers win. 12-4.
Week 18: vs. Seahawks
This game means nothing. Mac Jones takes his first meaningful snaps of the season, and Jacob Cowing has a big game, leaving Shanahan with a decision on whether he should include the second-year wideout more in the postseason.
49ers lose. 12-5.
12-5. Just like last year’s prediction. What are your predictions? Scroll down and let us know in the comments.