The SF 49ers officially have their 2021 opponents. While the week-to-week NFL schedule isn’t known yet, here are the easiest games.
The 2020 season is officially over for the SF 49ers and everyone is dialed in for the 2021 season already. One of the many excitements of the offseason is who the team will play in the fall.
That part is known with San Francisco’s 2021 opponents already lined up for next season after the team’s 6-10 finish this season
The opponents for the SF 49ers are as follows:
https://twitter.com/49ers/status/1345918832376836097?s=20
Of course, the usual rivalry teams from the NFC West are on the list with the Niners playing each team twice: once at home and once on the road.
But this year, the SF 49ers will also take on the AFC South, the NFC North, and two other last-place teams in the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons. According to NBC Sports Bay Area Matt Maiocco, if the proposed 17th game is approved, the 49ers will take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
SF 49ers schedule fun facts
- This will be the first time since 2017 the 49ers will take on the AFC South.
- They went 3-1 with their only loss against the Indianapolis Colts.
- The Niners have played two NFC North teams recently: Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
- San Francisco will face the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions for the first time since 2018.
- The 2021 schedule will reunite old friends on new teams with the Colts bringing defensive lineman DeForest Buckner back to Levi’s Stadium.
- The 49ers will visit the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, in what will be a revenge game for the red and gold.
We obviously don’t have the schedule yet, but the fact the SF 49ers are facing five teams with records worse than theirs can only provide hope for a repeat of the 2019 season.
Let’s break down the five easiest games on the 2021 season starting with the Lions.
No. 5: The Lions could be facing the SF 49ers with a familiar face as head coach
Last matchup: September 2018 — SF 49ers 30 Detroit Lions 27
Rumors are flying more than airplanes at this time of year, as NFL teams try to figure out ways to improve their coaching staff and roster. The SF 49ers are at the forefront of whispers as teams like the Lions start asking about some coordinators to be their next head coach.
Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is one of the leading candidates to take over a head coaching gig, and the state of Michigan hasn’t been too shy about their interest.
If Saleh decides to leave and venture off to Michigan, he’ll be taking on a team that finished 2020 with a 5-11 record and could be making a big decision about quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Detroit is one of those teams you might forget about since it hasn’t done a whole lot in the regular season and playoffs. And it’s not for a lack of talent either. They’ve had Stafford since 2009, while also being blessed with wide receiver “Megatron” Calvin Johnson for many years.
But unfortunately, their last winning season was in 2017 while their last playoff appearance was a Wild Card loss in 2016.
A healthy SF 49ers team can easily run laps around the Lions who seem to be in a constant rebuild mode. The Lions ranked near or at the bottom in both offensive and defensive categories, making this matchup a huge mismatch.
Whether Saleh heads to Detroit or not, San Francisco fans can chalk up a “W” next to this opponent. A healthy Niners squad will prove too much to handle.
No. 4: The SF 49ers will host the Texans but it could be without one of the greatest defensive linemen of all time
Last matchup: December 2017 — SF 49ers 26 Houston Texans 16
If Houston Texans fans received a dollar every time they heard, “Houston, we have a problem,” they could afford to fix all the problems.
The Texans, we know now, might not be the same when the SF 49ers host them in 2021.
Houston might be without all-star defensive lineman J.J. Watt to start the new season. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported in November the future Hall of Famer wants to end his career on a Super Bowl-contending team.
Watt can pick up some much-needed draft picks for the Texans if he were to be traded, which could make their meeting with the 49ers much easier.
Hey, maybe the SF 49ers make a pitch to Houston…
The Texans will be starting fresh with a new coach and general manager, and assuming the Niners keep much of the core intact through free agency, Houston will have a rocket ship full of problems.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson led his team to middle-of-the-pack stats in 2020. Houston placed top 10 in passing yards, touchdowns and interceptions, while the running game let it down immensely: almost dead last in yards, attempts and touchdowns.
With a healthy EDGE, Nick Bosa, the SF 49ers defensive front should feast on the run game. Even the secondary could have a solid game if the pass rush is on its game.
Sorry, Houston. The Niners are taking off with the victory and don’t plan on landing anytime soon.
No. 3: The toughest opponent the SF 49ers will face when it comes to “easy” teams
Last matchup: December 2019 — Falcons 29 SF 49ers 22
One of the SF 49ers’ three losses in 2019 came against the Atlanta Falcons.
If you don’t remember it, here are the highlights:
The 49ers will certainly try to flip the script when they host head coach Kyle Shanahan’s old team.
This is yet another team Robert Saleh could become the head coach of, especially since he was confirmed to have an interview with the team.
Dave Choate of The Falcoholic sums up the Falcons season and spoiler alert: it’s a good omen for the SF 49ers.
Atlanta truly had a terrible 2020. Now, there are talks about star receiver Julio Jones moving on from the team. Again, another bonus for the Niners if they don’t have to play the man who stole a victory from them in 2019.
For the sole reasons the SF 49ers will be much better than the Falcons next season and will want revenge for 2019, they’ll take this game in a nail bitter at Levi’s Stadium.
No. 2: You just know the SF 49ers want to forget their last meeting against the Eagles
Last matchup: November 2020 — Eagles 25 SF 49ers 20
In what was supposed to be an easy win, the SF 49ers absolutely shocked the world on Sunday Night Football and fell to the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was a great night for Calgary Stampeders and CFL fans with linebacker Alex Singleton’s pick-six, but for Niners fans it was terrible.
But here’s the tea: It was a fluke loss for San Francisco. Quarterback Nick Mullens missed some key throws like a potential touchdown to fullback Kyle Juszczyk. And, when No. 3 quarterback C.J. Beathard took over, they came within a catch of victory.
Philadelphia’s roster is going to look vastly different next season with many key players potentially leaving like tight end Zach Ertz, center Jason Kelce and quarterback Carson Wentz.
The struggle for the SF 49ers will be how they deal with 2020 rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts. He’s a mobile QB and the 49ers defense clearly struggles with players of this ilk.
However, let’s be real. The Eagles organization is a bit of a mess right now. And the chances of them turning things around this offseason are truly slim.
This will be the opportunity the Niners need to get their revenge and depending on when this game is scheduled, it could make or break either team’s playoff chances.
No. 1: Even with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, it’s not going to solve the Jaguars’ problems when they face the SF 49ers
Last matchup: December 2017 — SF 49ers 44 Jacksonville Jaguars 33
Keep in mind, this is a far-too early look at the 2021 schedule. So there’s a decent chance the Jacksonville Jaguars completely turn their organization around with a franchise quarterback, new coach and new culture.
Don’t let the 1-15 record fool you. Jacksonville lost five games by four points or less. The Jags were in many games and just needed an extra play here and there to be less embarrassing.
San Francisco 49ers
But even if they take Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, the SF 49ers should easily have their way with the team from Northern Florida.
The Jaguars ranked basically at the bottom of every key category. It’s going to take more than a franchise quarterback to change everything around.
Recent history is in the Niners’ favor, as they’ve won the last three meetings with Jacksonville after losing the first two.
If you have a healthy quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo (assuming he sticks around), an offensive line that’s improved its pass blocking, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk running laps with ease, and a defense lead by linebacker Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, there’s virtually no way the SF 49ers lose this game.
This is the perfect “trap game” for the 49ers. Obviously, they should beat Jacksonville, but it’s the NFL and anything can happen.
Bonus victories
With matchups against the LA Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals you can expect the SF 49ers to win at least three of these games. They’ve swept the Rams in back-to-back seasons, stole a victory from Arizona and played Seattle tough in their final game of the season.
With basically five guaranteed victories already, you can chalk the SF 49ers to win 10 games at least. They’ll be healthier, hungrier and more focused than ever to win the Super Bowl.