The NFL officially released its 2023 schedule on Thursday night, and San Francisco 49ers fans can make sure their schedules are free for fall weekends full of playoff rematches and other marquee games.
They’ll open with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10, host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football on Oct. 8 and visit the Philadelphia Eagles for an NFC Championship Game rematch on Dec. 3.
While San Francisco had the luxury of facing teams from the lowly NFC South in 2022, the 2023 schedule is nowhere near as forgiving, at least on paper. The NFC West faces the NFC East and AFC North. That means the 49ers will host the likes of the Baltimore Ravens, Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants, and they’ll visit the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That game against the Giants will be a Week 3 Thursday night affair, one that’ll serve as the 49ers’ home opener after they open the season with back-to-back away games against the Steelers and Los Angeles Rams. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens will head to Levi’s Stadium on Christmas for a 5:15 p.m. kickoff.
Winning the NFC West also lines the 49ers up for games against the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings and the NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their 17th game will be in Florida against the AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars. That visit to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will be on Monday Night Football on Oct. 23.
As usual, the 49ers will face each division opponent twice, including games against the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, and on Dec. 10 at Levi’s Stadium. San Francisco beat Seattle three times last season, including a 41-23 victory in the NFC Wild Card Round. The Thanksgiving meeting will be at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Why the NFL needs to make its schedule release into a primetime television event when opponents are known far earlier is a separate discussion entirely.
Schedule on LOCK 🔒@dalocksmith | @Ticketmaster#FTTB pic.twitter.com/gPdAaKGhVB
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 12, 2023
Full Schedule:
Week 1: Sept. 10 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 10 a.m.
Week 2: Sept. 17 at Los Angeles Rams, 1:05 p.m.
Week 3: Sept. 21 vs. New York Giants, 5:15 p.m.
Week 4: Oct. 1 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1:25 p.m.
Week 5: Oct. 8 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 5:20 p.m.
Week 6: Oct. 15 at Cleveland Browns, 10 a.m.
Week 7: Oct. 23 at Minnesota Vikings, 5:15 p.m.
Week 8: Oct. 29 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:25 p.m.
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: Nov. 12 at Jacksonville Jaguars, 10 a.m.
Week 11: Nov. 19 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:05 p.m.
Week 12: Nov. 23 at Seattle Seahawks, 5:20 p.m.
Week 13: Dec. 3 at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:25 p.m.
Week 14: Dec. 10 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m.
Week 15: Dec. 17 at Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m.
Week 16: Dec. 25 vs. Baltimore Ravens, 5:15 p.m.
Week 17: Dec. 31 at Washington Commanders, 10 a.m.
Week 18: Jan. 6 or 7 vs. Los Angeles Rams, TBD