The San Francisco 49ers announced their 2022 regular season schedule last Thursday.
The 49ers will face the NFC South and AFC West in cross-divisional play, while continuing to face their NFC West opponents twice a year. San Francisco will also host the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders and visit the Chicago Bears.
The visit to Chicago will mark the fourth time in five seasons that San Francisco has opened the season on the road. This will be fourth time the 49ers and Bears have faced each other to open the season, however, the first three taking place in San Francisco. San Francisco defeated Chicago 49-7 to open the 2003 season, the last opening day matchup in this series.
The team is scheduled to play in five prime time games during the regular season in 2022, including two at home, with two on NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Week 3 at Denver & Week 10 vs. Los Angeles Chargers), two on ESPN’s Monday Night Football (Week 3 vs. Los Angeles Rams & Week 11 at Arizona – Mexico City) and one on Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football (Week 15 at Seattle).
Here’s a look at the 49ers 2022 schedule, along with all-too-early game predictions:
Week 1: at Chicago, 9/11, 10 am
The 49ers are the better team on paper, but crazy things can happen during the first couple weeks of the season. This game will feature a battle between 2021 first-round draft picks, Trey Lance and Justin Fields
Prediction: Win
Week 2: Seattle, 9/18, 1:05 pm
The Seahawks have swept the 49ers the last two years and are 8-2 during Kyle Shanahan’s tenure in San Francisco. This time around however, there is not Russell Wilson to deal with. Advantage 49ers.
Prediction: Win
Week 3: at Denver, 9/25, 5:20 pm, Sunday Night Football
The Broncos had a solid defense in 2021, but their offense could not generate points. Landing Russell Wilson in an offseason trade and Nathaniel Hackett as head coach could help generate points.
Despite the additions, it’s hard to see a team with a first-year head coach and two first-year coordinators getting the better of Kyle Shanahan and DeMeco Ryans.
Prediction: Win
Week 4: Los Angeles Rams, 10/3, 5:15 pm, Monday Night Football
The 49ers had won six straight over their longtime NFC West rivals until falling 20-17 in the NFC Championship Game.
The addition of veterans Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner were solid, however the Rams also lost Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr.
If Kyle Shanahan can get open receivers for Trey Lance, the first-year starter will find them.
Prediction: Win
Week 5: at Carolina, 10/9, 1:05 pm
The Panthers have a solid defense, but they also have Sam Darnold and rookie Matt Corral at quarterback. Unless they make a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, the Panthers will be lucky to win five games for the third consecutive season with Matt Rhule at the helm.
Prediction: Win
Week 6: at Atlanta, 10/16, 10 am
This will be the 49ers second and final early start of the season. San Francisco will likely stay on the East Coast to limit travel.
Atlanta traded Matt Ryan and replaced the veteran quarterback with Marcus Mariota.
Prediction: Win
Week 7: Kansas City, 10/23, 1:25 pm
While staying on the East Coast has helped with the back-to-back games, it’s led to sluggish play from the 49ers when they return home.
Facing Patrick Mahomes and the explosive Chiefs offense requires the defense to be at its best, and the Super Bowl LIV rematch does not go the 49ers way.
Prediction: Loss
Week 8: at Los Angeles, 10/30, 1:25 pm
San Francisco continues its regular season dominance over the Rams, winning on a late field goal at Levi’s Stadium South.
Prediction: Win
Week 9: Bye
Having the bye week fall as close to the middle of the season as possible sets up well for the 49ers.
Week 10: Los Angeles Chargers, 11/13, 5:20 pm, Sunday Night Football
San Francisco is 2-3 coming off their bye week under Kyle Shanahan. Facing a defense featuring Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack coming off the edge with J.C. Jackson and Derwin James in the secondary will create problems for the 49er’s offense.
On the other side of the ball the Chargers have Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams who will give the 49ers defense trouble.
Prediction: Loss
Week 11: at Arizona (Mexico City), 11/21, 5:15 pm, Monday Night Football
The 49ers nearly defeated Arizona last season in Trey Lance’s first NFL start. It took consistently shooting themselves in the foot offensively to ultimately come up short.
Without Chandler Jones coming off the edge, Lance and the 49ers offense gets it done this time around, and the 49ers improved pass rush keeps Kyler Murray in the pocket.
Prediction: Win
Week 12: New Orleans, 11/27, 1:25 pm
The Saint’s defense is formidable, but don’t forget they have Jameis Winston at quarterback. San Francisco has shown they can get the better of Winston in the past, and without Sean Payton the 49ers are too much in a tight contest.
Prediction: Win
Week 13: Miami, 12/4, 1:05 pm
This game marks the return of Mike McDaniel to Levi’s Stadium. The former 49ers offensive coordinator is trying to build the Dolphins in the same mold as San Francisco.
Miami has tried to upgrade along the offensive line while adding speed to the backfield and at wide receiver.
This game coming later in the year gives the Dolphins time to come together and figure things out, leading to a much tougher game than it would have been earlier in the season.
Prediction: Win
Week 14: Tampa Bay, 12/11, 1:25 pm
Many pundits predicted Tom Brady would look to finish his career out in the Bay Area. While they were wrong, Brady still gets to return to face his childhood team one final time in the regular season.
Prediction: Loss
Week 15: at Seattle, 12/15, 5:15 pm, Thursday Night Football
As if playing in Seattle isn’t already difficult enough for San Francisco, they need to do it on a short week. Despite having the talent advantage, the 49ers can’t overcome the schedule.
Prediction: Loss
Week 16: Washington, 12/24, 1:05 pm
The Commanders may be able to give Dallas a challenge for the NFC East title in 2022.
San Francisco comes into this game off a mini bye week, making them the fresher team. After losing to Carson Wentz last season, the 49ers defense takes advantage of Washington’s new signal caller this time around.
Prediction: Win
Week 17: at Las Vegas, 1/1, 1:05pm
San Francisco opens the new year with a challenging contest in Sin City. Good thing George Kittle and Trey Lance have already spent some time there together.
Both teams will be fighting for playoff positioning in this contest, and the 49ers offense proves too tough for the Las Vegas defense.
Prediction: Win
Week 18: Arizona, 1/7/8, TBD
Arizona is known for collapsing late in the season under Kliff Kingsbury. That won’t change this season.
Result: Win
Record: 13-4
Wildly optimistic, especially with a rookie QB and questionable offensive line.
I expect the 49ers to return 4 of their 5 starting offensive linemen from last season, and don’t think there will be a drop from Garoppolo to Lance.
Fast forward to September 8th and?
13-4 Wow I thought I was an optimist. I’m having a hard time coming up with a prediction. I believe the D could possibly be the best in the NFL as well as the #1 ST in football but an untested Qb and a shaky O line give me no confidence. I think the difference between a winning and losing season will be turnovers. If they can keep fumbles to a minimum and Lance can keep his Ints. to less than 10, I believe they could win 10 to 11 games with most of the games being low scoring defensive battles. IMHO
I don’t have a prediction but I sure like 13-4. I don’t see any weaknesses but an uncertainty at QB. The secondary is stronger this year as is ST’s. I think the DLine might be stronger this year if Kinlaw is healthy and with another pass rusher added. I know some think the O line is weak but I don’t see it. They were ranked #3 last year but lost a starting Guard. However, Banks and Moore could fight it out for that spot.
I could see 13-4 being viable. Personally, I’m thinking 11-6. There’ll be those three or four frustrating, head-scratcher games where the 9ers play poorly.
We should check our predictions again immediately after the first preseason game–what fun that would be.
Good call.
Right on Jack. It will be an interesting year.
I am definitely wildly optimistic.
The Niners corrected a bunch of flaws which cost them games last year. Special teams and poor CB play stick out like sore thumbs. The addition of RB price should resolve the issue of constantly getting stuffed on critical short yardage situations. Our inability to convert 2 3rd and shorts in the 4th quarter cost us the NFC championship game versus Rams. Finally I am looking forward to seeing what Gray can do in open space. Opposing Ds will have a hard time covering Deebo, Aiyuk , Kittle and Gray. Someone will have a very favorable matchup .
I love your optimism, Jack. Gutsy calls. I hope you are correct!! Go Niners!!!
if we have trey lance starting im tempering my expectations because i dont want to put to much pressure on lance. 9-8 would be awesome in my eyes.
Jack: 13W – 4L?
I hope you’re right jack, but a little too optimistic for me.
IF MACK RETURN: I see the 9ers going 11W – 6L for 2022 and making the playoffs as a wild card.
IF MACK DOES NOT RETURN: Who replaces him at Center? And means player changes at all 3 IOL positions.
The biggest question mark is the offensive line. That’s one area where the team got weaker.
My optimism went as high as 11-6…….with the unanswered questions the team has, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, 13-4 is a bit wishful…..IMHO. But, who knows? It’s the NFL, and it’s also the 9ers…Shanahan seems to put the puzzle together when it matters
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