Ranking out the 4 most important 49ers games of 2023

The 49ers' 2023 schedule has some quirks, and these four games are easily the most important.

One good thing about football season ending in February is all of our collective anxiety levels return to normal for the next several months.

However, now that offseason programs are in full swing, let's rank the four most important games of the San Francisco 49ers' 2023 NFL schedule.

The Niners have had a ton of recent success by reaching the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl three out of the last four years. The keys to San Francisco's success have always started with a stout defense led by the front seven, a dominating run game and exquisite play-calling. When the 49ers have all three phases working in unison for any length, they can get hot and rip off a winning streak during the season.

So, about those games and their rankings as the most important...

No. 4 most important 49ers game: Week 5 vs. Cowboys

One of the teams they'll be facing this year is an old familiar foe in the Dallas Cowboys.

Over the past two seasons, San Francisco has bested the Cowboys in back-to-back playoff meetings. Once again, both teams seem primed for another strong, competitive season and it wouldn't be surprising if they met for a third consecutive year in the postseason.

Before getting too far ahead down the road, we're going to get an early look at both squads since they're slated for a Week 5 showdown in Santa Clara on Sunday Night Football. It should be an intense game and a good barometer for the first quarter of the season. The expectations for the Niners are through the roof, and they've been knocking on the door for a couple of years now. They've managed to sustain a high level of success and compete year after year, thanks in large part to a solid roster rotation.

Dallas was a tough opponent a year ago, and with this early test, we'll see just how tough San Francisco will be.