49ers schedule 2022: Trey Lance should be pleased with first 6 weeks

The 49ers schedule revealed a relatively smooth-sailing first six weeks in 2022, which is great news for soon-to-be starter Trey Lance.

The San Francisco 49ers schedule for 2022 is now public knowledge, and the upcoming season will mark a notable transition for the franchise as it looks to fully install second-year quarterback Trey Lance as the main guy under center for the long run.

Lance, who saw two starts in 2021 and went 1-1 in those games, will look to make the move from a high-profile backup to a regular starter, ultimately replacing Jimmy Garoppolo and ushering in a new phase for the Niners.

While there may be some speculation Garoppolo hangs around and continues to start, let’s go ahead and fully assume Lance will be the guy this season and beyond.

Ideally, San Francisco would have a relatively easy path for Lance to get into a rhythm. Any young quarterback, especially one with notably less collegiate experience like Lance, is going to face challenges early in his career.

Fortunately for Lance, the 49ers schedule over the first six weeks of the 2022 season is fairly smooth sailing.

49ers schedule over first 6 weeks should help Trey Lance

Take a look at the Niners’ opening six games this upcoming season:

• Week 1 @ Chicago Bears: Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. ET
• Week 2 vs. Seattle Seahawks: Sunday, Sept. 18 at 4:05 p.m. ET
• Week 3 @ Denver Broncos: Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8:20 p.m. ET
• Week 4 vs. Los Angeles Rams: Monday, Oct. 3 at 8:15 p.m. ET
• Week 5 @ Carolina Panthers: Sunday, Oct. 9 at 4:05 p.m. ET
• Week 6 @ Atlanta Falcons: Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. ET

OK, so four road games in six contests on the NFL schedule isn’t always ideal. But let’s acknowledge the fact three of those bouts away from Levi’s Stadium aren’t exactly against the toughest competition.

Read More: 49ers get 5 primetime games on 2022 NFL schedule

A Week 1 season opener against the restructuring Bears, who did little to offensively help second-year quarterback Justin Fields during the offseason, is certainly a winnable matchup. Coming home to face a non-Russell Wilson Seahawks team, now led by either Drew Lock or Geno Smith at quarterback, figures to be an easier matchup, too.

The Panthers also figure to be a beatable opponent. While Carolina’s defense is good enough to give Lance some fits, one might figure this to be a defense-first showdown, particularly if Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is still under center.

Again, a winnable game. Just like the Week 6 matchup against the seemingly going-nowhere Falcons.

Even the 2 tough games on 49ers schedule should boost Trey Lance

It’s not going to be completely smooth sailing for Lance over his first six weeks, no. Not with a looming matchup on the road on Sunday Night Football against Wilson and the Broncos in Week 3.

At least Lance will have had two games to find his footing before partaking in what’ll assuredly be the toughest two-game stretch he’ll face over the first third of the regular season. And going up against Wilson in a hostile environment will be a good litmus test of just how well the 2021 No. 3 overall NFL Draft pick measures up against one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.

Regardless of how well Lance performs in that matchup, the gained experience should bode well as he and San Francisco return home for a highly anticipated game against the defending Super Bowl-champion Rams on Monday Night Football.

Might as well get that game at home and with an extra day of preparation to boot.

Lance won’t be able to escape any major challenges for the first third of the season, no. And it should go without saying that every game is a tough, important one.

Especially with those first two weeks and a relatively easier Weeks 5 and 6, though, it’s about as good an opening situation the young quarterback could have asked for.