49ers schedule: Initial win/loss predictions for the 2023 season

Week 4: Sunday, October 1, vs Arizona, 4:25 PM ET/1:25 PM PT

The Arizona Cardinals are falling apart.

With quarterback Kyler Murray expected to miss part of the regular season recovering from his torn ACL and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins looking to get out of town, there isn’t much to like about this team. 

The organization doesn’t seem too interested in saving itself in 2023, so look for the Cardinals to not only finish last in the NFC West but also to contend for the no.1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Anything less than a sweep of the Cardinals this season would be sad and unacceptable.

49ers' W

Record: 4-0

Week 5: Sunday, October 8, vs Dallas, 8:20 PM ET/4:20 PM PT

It was really nice of Jerry Jones to build the 49ers a Texas-based second home, wasn’t it? 

All jokes aside, this is a matchup that the 49ers have figured out in the playoffs the last two seasons, ending the Cowboys’ Super Bowl hopes for two years in a row now.

Yes, there is a lot of talent on this team with quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, running back Tony Pollard, linebacker Micah Parsons, and EDGE rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, to name a few, but the existence of head coach Mike McCarthy at the helm sort of makes this feel like a team that has reached its peak by winning a lot in the regular season and falling short when it matters.

That said, this is a regular season game, but Dallas has to come to Santa Clara. It’s a game that should look a lot like the recent playoff matchups in just about every way, including the 49ers winning.

49ers' W

Record: 5-0