How many primetime games will 49ers play on 2023 schedule?

The 49ers are a good team, and it appears as if the NFL schedule makers are rewarding them as such with plenty of primetime games.

A year ago, the San Francisco 49ers received a maximum of five primetime games on their 2022 regular-season schedule.

Why? Well, the Niners are a pretty good team. It's pretty simple. They had made it to the Super Bowl back in 2019, and then they made the NFC Championship game two seasons later. So, when the NFL schedule makers elected to put together the 2022 slate of games, putting San Francisco under a national spotlight was the correct thing to do.

And it appears as if that's the kind of treatment the 49ers will get again in 2023.

49ers will play 5 primetime games on their 2023 NFL schedule

Having gone all the way to the NFC Championship game for a second consecutive year, then retaining the vast majority of their Pro Bowl- and All-Pro-level talent, the Niners still count as must-watch television.

With the 2023 NFL schedule being released on Thursday, May 11, it was pretty clear the league views San Francisco as a team that'll be worth showcasing under the bright lights of national TV.

Not surprisingly, the 49ers will get the maximum of five primetime games again in 2023:

- Week 3: Giants @ 49ers -- Thursday, Sept. 21 (Thursday Night Football)
- Week 5: Cowboys @ 49ers -- Sunday, Oct. 8 (Sunday Night Football)
- Week 7: 49ers @ Vikings -- Monday, Oct. 23 (Monday Night Football)
- Week 12: 49ers @ Seahawks -- Thursday, Nov. 23 (Thursday Night Football, Thanksgiving)
- Week 16: Ravens @ 49ers -- Monday, Dec. 25 (Monday Night Football, Christmas Day)

Read More: 49ers' Sunday night game vs. Cowboys should be epic

There are a couple of notable tidbits here. For starters, the Niners are one of a few teams that are impacted by a new rule the NFL implemented during the offseason that allows for squads to play more than just one Thursday Night Football game.

Originally, Thursday night games were intended to give every team across the league at least one primetime showdown. However, with some teams truly being awful, the practice of putting more entertaining matchups into the spotlight became more important.

And it means San Francisco will play two Thursday night games, the first in Week 3 at home against the visiting Giants, and then a Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Seahawks in Seattle.

At least those two short-week games are relatively far apart on the 49ers schedule.

Additionally, it's a bit surprising the Niners' Week 13 road contest against the Philadelphia Eagles wasn't put into a primetime slot, especially considering it's going to be a grudge match from last January's NFC Championship bout.

Either way, that showdown in Philly should make for must-watch television, too.