We finally know what the San Francisco 49ers’ 2026 schedule looks like. The NFL released its full 18-week slate Thursday.
Now the waiting game begins on the NFL calendar with training camp set for sometime in late July. Until then there will be plenty of speculation about roster spots, depth charts, and Super Bowl hopes.
We went through the 49ers’ 17-game schedule and picked wins and losses for each one. It’s a harder schedule this season than last, so finding wins is a little more difficult. Still, San Francisco figures to be primed for a playoff run if they can get a couple of things to go their way in 2026.
We still recommend they play the games just in case, but here’s how we think the 2026 season shakes out for San Francisco:
Week 1 at Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne, Australia)
Tough that the 49ers lose their homefield advantage playing at SoFi Stadium. Expect a little sloppiness out of the gate for San Francisco with a bunch of new personnel and a new defensive coordinator.
Prediction: Loss, 30-20 (0-1)
Week 2 vs. Miami Dolphins
A get-right game for San Francisco. They get a mini-bye before facing a team in the early stages of a massive rebuild.
Prediction: Win, 31-17 (1-1)
Week 3 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Not having to face Kyler Murray anymore makes the Cardinals feel a lot less daunting. They’re still in the early rebuilding stages as well. This concludes the “softest” stretch on the 49ers’ schedule.
Prediction: Win, 27-18 (2-1)
Week 4 vs. Denver Broncos
A quick observation! The first six games on Denver’s schedule are just brutal. They’re at the Kansas City Chiefs, home for two against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Rams, then they have this game before visiting the Los Angeles Chargers, and they cap the first third of the year with a home bout against the Seahawks. Unfortunately for San Francisco they have the Seahawks looming and overlooking the Broncos even a little bit is an easy way to lose a game to a Super Bowl contender.
Prediction: Loss, 21-20 (2-2)
Week 5 at Seattle Seahawks
The 49ers should have this one circled already. Unfortunately it may not matter. Seattle is very good and their fans are back because of it, making Lumen Field a really tough place to play.
Prediction: Loss, 23-14 (2-3)
Week 6 vs. Washington Commanders (MNF)
Brandon Aiyuk revenge game?
Prediction: Win, 34-28 (3-3)
Week 7 at Atlanta Falcons
Will it be Michael Penix or Tua Tagovailoa under center? Will it matter?
Prediction: Win, 27-14 (4-3)
Week 8 — Bye
A game over .500 at the Bye week puts the 49ers in a good spot, but they’ll have to earn their playoff trip with a gauntlet to close the season.
Week 9 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Will it be Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza under center? Will it matter?
Prediction: Win, 23-20 (5-3)
Week 10 at Dallas Cowboys
This is going to be a massive test for the 49ers’ defense. Dallas might have one of the best offenses in the sport with a defense more capable of getting a stop to win a tight game.
Prediction: Loss, 34-33 (5-4)
Week 11 vs. Minnesota Vikings (SNF)
The 49ers just can’t escape Kyler Murray. Not playing in Minnesota where the 49ers haven’t won since the Taft administration, and instead playing in Mexico where they enjoy a significant homefield advantage is nice.
Prediction: Win, 20-18 (6-4)
Week 12 vs. Seattle Seahawks
I’m just gonna be honest here. Even with all proper context it’s really hard to pick the 49ers over the Seahawks given how the last two meetings went at the end of last season.
Prediction: Loss, 26-21 (6-5)
Week 13 at New York Giants
The Giants should be a tougher matchup than they were a season ago, but at 6-5 the 49ers have their backs against the wall a little bit as they search for a playoff spot. New York should hang in there, but they’re not quite there yet to knock off a potential Super Bowl contender.
Prediction: Win, 24-20 (7-5)
Week 14 vs. Los Angeles Rams
It’s a surprise this impending shootout isn’t in primetime.
Prediction: Win, 38-34 (8-5)
Week 15 at Los Angeles Chargers (TNF)
Trey Lance revenge game?
Prediction: Win, 27-25 (9-5)
Week 16 at Kansas City Chiefs
#KyleShanahanBeatAndyReidOneTimeChallenge
Prediction: Loss, 28-27 (9-6)
Week 17 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (SNF)
The Eagles have been to the Super Bowl every other year under Nick Sirianni, and they didn’t make it last year. Philadelphia adds a new chapter to this budding NFC rivalry with a win at Levi’s Stadium.
Prediction: Loss, 24-21 (9-7)
Week 18 at Arizona Cardinals
This might be a “win-and-in” playoff scenario for the 49ers, and it’s hard to see this group losing in that situation.
Prediction: Win, 38-13 (10-7)
More 49ers: 7 takeaways from a tough 49ers 2026 schedule
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Game-by-game predictions for 49ers’ 2026 season: How many wins for SF?
Reporting by Kyle Madson, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
