San Francisco 49ers fans cheer in the fourth quarter of a NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Here is a week-by-week look at the 2023 schedule for the 49ers, who are the defending NFC West champions and two-time reigning NFC runner-up:
Sunday, Sept. 10 (10 a.m., FOX)
at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have won the Lombardi Trophy six times, a feat the 49ers are trying to match by season’s end at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The last time the 49ers opened the season in Pittsburgh was 1993, a 24-13 win.
Sunday, Sept. 17 (1:05 p.m., FOX)
at Los Angeles Rams
It’s technically the Rams’ home opener, but the 49ers Faithful have overtaken SoFi Stadium since its 2020 opening. The 49ers have swept the home-and-away series since 2019.
Thursday, Sept. 21 (5:15 p.m. Prime Video)
vs. New York Giants
The 49ers debut at Levi’s Stadium, and do so in prime time. They’ve gone 12-11 since 2017 under the lights with coach Kyle Shanahan. That includes a 2021, home-opening loss in Week 3 to Green Bay.
Sunday, Oct. 1 (1:25 p.m., FOX)
vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are coming off a 13-loss season for the first time since 2018, when they were coached by Steve Wilks, who has replaced DeMeco Ryans as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator this year.
Sunday, Oct. 8 (5:20 p.m., NBC)
vs. Dallas Cowboys
It’s been 40 years since the 49ers hosted the Cowboys in prime time (a 42-17 win), and it’s been nine months since the Niners dispatched the Cowboys in the divisional playoffs (19-12).
Sunday, Oct. 15 (10 a.m., FOX)
at Cleveland Browns
Cleveland plays host to the 49ers for the first time since 2015. This is the second of four 10 a.m. PT kickoffs to test the 49ers’ body clocks this season.
Monday, Oct. 23 (5:15 p.m., ESPN)
at Minnesota Vikings
No team has won more “Monday Night Football” games than the 49ers (52). But they’ve lost their last six visits to Minneapolis.
Sunday, Oct. 29 (1:25 p.m., CBS)
vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The 49ers can’t get caught looking ahead to their bye, not with the AFC contenders coming off their bye and making only their second visit to Levi’s Stadium.
Nov. 5 Bye
A midseason recess comes with only four remaining home games and play three of the next four on the road.
Sunday, Nov. 12 (10 a.m., FOX)
at Jacksonville Jaguars
The 49ers are 3-3 after their regular-season bye under Shanahan. The Jaguars, who’ll also be coming off their bye, have not had a winning record entering Week 10 since 2017.
Sunday, Nov. 19 (1:05 p.m., FOX)
vs. Tampa Bay Bucs
The Bucs, even with Tom Brady, lost 35-7 in last season’s visit to Levi’s Stadium. Odds are the 49ers defenders won’t be seeking autographs on the footballs they intercept this game from whichever Brady successor throws them.
Thursday, Nov. 23 (5:20 p.m., NBC)
at Seattle Seahawks
Embarrassed at home on 2014 Thanksgiving Night by the Seahawks, the Niners can flip that script nine years later. This is the NFC West rivals’ first meeting since the 49ers won all three of last year’s games, including a comeback win in the NFC wild-card game.
Sunday, Dec. 3 (1:25 p.m., FOX)
at Philadelphia Eagles
No doubt the 49ers will have three quarterbacks available in their return trip to Philly, where Brock Purdy (elbow) and Josh Johnson (concussion) got hurt in last season’s NFC Championship Game defeat to the Eagles. Keep watch of ex-Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave vs. Philadelphia’s offensive line.
Sunday, Dec. 10 (1:05 p.m., FOX)
vs. Seattle Seahawks
Don’t forget that the 49ers trailed 17-16 at halftime before rallying past the Seahawks for January’s wild-card victory at Levi’s Stadium.
Sunday, Dec. 17 (1:05 p.m., CBS)
at Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are the fourth opponent to face the 49ers coming off a bye. Last year’s opponents probably wish their bye came the week after playing the 49ers — they went 0-15 combined after those physical battles.
Monday, Dec. 25 (5:15 p.m., ABC)
vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens ante up with the 2012 season’s Lombardi Trophy! No, not really. It’s been a decade since these teams’ Super Bowl blackout in New Orleans’ Superdome.
Sunday, Dec. 31 (10 a.m., FOX)
at Washington Commanders
No better way for the 49ers to celebrate New Year’s Eve than do what their 2019 Super Bowl-bound team did at FedEx Field – win, then rejoice with belly slides on the sloppy field.
Saturday/Sunday Jan. 6/7 (time/TV TBD)
vs. Los Angeles Rams
Look for the 49ers to rest most of their starters because they’ll have secured the NFC’s No. 1 seed by kickoff, right? The 49ers are 6-0 since 2009 when facing the Rams to end the regular season.
Originally published at Cam Inman