The 49ers schedule is out. Here are our predictions for game of the year and more
The 49ers have released their full schedule for the 2026 regular season. So, naturally, it’s time to get out the crystal ball.
Complete with 38,000-plus miles of air travel including international stops in Australia and Mexico, the slate of games includes two divisional games apiece against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and NFC runners-up in the Los Angeles Rams, plus other intriguing matchups pitting San Francisco against NFC East and AFC West.
Now it’s prediction time. Here’s what The Sacramento Bee expects will be the...
Must-watch Game of the Year
It’s easy to point to any matchups with the Seahawks and Rams, given Seattle won the Super Bowl (at Levi’s Stadium, no less) and the Rams went to the NFC title game.
But the must-watch game on the schedule is Week 17 against the Eagles. There is real hatred between these two teams and fanbases, plus “Big Dom” is coming to Levi’s Stadium with Dre Greenlaw back in red and gold.
There’s always drama around the Eagles, and surely 49ers fans would love to put the nail in the Nick Sirianni and/or Jalen Hurts eras.
Sleeper-pick Game of the Year
Don’t sleep on Week 4 against the Broncos.
There are a lot of high-profile games on the schedule, including against the Chiefs, Cowboys and former geographic rival Raiders. But don’t forget Denver hosted the AFC title game last year and may have put been a stronger opponent for Seattle in the Super Bowl than the New England Patriots had Nix not gotten hurt. The Broncos are talented and well-coached.
The 49ers travel to play the Seahawks the following week, so this could be a trap game early in the season.
Regular season record
The 49ers should manage an 11-win season: 11-6, good for second in the NFC West, with losses to the Rams, Seahawks, Giants, Chiefs, Chargers and the regular season finale against Arizona, in a game that could carry little meaning.
This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 4:45 PM with the headline "The 49ers schedule is out. Here are our predictions for game of the year and more."
