Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the 49ers’ toughest 5 games of 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: D.J. Jones #96 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Latavius Murray #25 of the Minnesota Vikings in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: D.J. Jones #96 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Latavius Murray #25 of the Minnesota Vikings in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The 2018 NFL schedule has been released, and the San Francisco 49ers won’t have to travel much this season. But they still have some tough games, and here are the five toughest.

San Francisco 49ers fans, and fans across the league, can now start planning their fall schedule with the official release of the 2018 NFL regular-season schedule taking place Thursday.

The Niners begin their campaign on Sept. 9 with a road contest versus the Minnesota Vikings, before opening at home the following week against the Detroit Lions. More importantly, San Francisco gets to enjoy the maximum five prime-time games this season — quite the luxury for a team coming off a 6-10 finish a year ago.

But that’s what happens with five of those wins closed out the regular season. And it helps to have a budding-star quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

OK, it’s a bit silly to start with serious predictions about the regular season. After all, there’s the NFL Draft later this month, training camp, roster cuts and the all-too-worrisome injuries each team has to face. Simply put, we don’t have anywhere near the information for accurate assessments.

But based off what we know now, let’s take a look at some of the toughest games the 49ers will play this season.

Niner Noise’s Chris Wilson with the full 2018 schedule breakdown:

  • Week 1 –  Sunday, September 9 @ Minnesota Vikings at 10:00 a.m.
  • Week 2 – Sunday, September 16 vs. Detroit Lions at 1:05 p.m.
  • Week 3 – Sunday, September 23 @ Kansas City Chiefs at 10:00 a.m.
  • Week 4 – Sunday, September 30 @ Los Angeles Chargers at 1:25 p.m.
  • Week 5 – Sunday, October 7 vs. Arizona Cardinals at 1:25 p.m.
  • Week 6 – Monday, October 15 @ Green Bay Packers at 5:15 p.m.*
  • Week 7 – Sunday, October 21 vs. Los Angeles Rams at 5:20 p.m.*
  • Week 8 – Sunday, October 28 @ Arizona Cardinals at 1:25 p.m.
  • Week 9 – Thursday, November 1 vs. Oakland Raiders at 5:20 p.m.*
  • Week 10 – Monday, November 12 vs. New York Giants at 5:15 p.m.*
  • Week 11 – BYE
  • Week 12 – Sunday, November 25 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 10:00 a.m.
  • Week 13 – Sunday, December 2 @ Seattle Seahawks at 5:20 p.m.*
  • Week 14 – Sunday, December 9 vs. Denver Broncos at 1:05 p.m.
  • Week 15 – Sunday, December 16 vs. Seattle Seahawks at 1:05 p.m.
  • Week 16 – Sunday, December 23 vs. Chicago Bears at 1:05 p.m.
  • Week 17 – Sunday, December 30 @ Los Angeles Rams at 1:25 p.m.

All times PT      * Denotes prime-time matchup.

Got it? Good. Now let’s dive into the five toughest.