49ers’ scariest pitfall to overcome on 2026 NFL schedule

After they get through with the Rams in Week 1, the 49ers should be able to find success with their early-season games. The 49ers should be able to pull out dominant wins over the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 2 and 3. Both of these teams are likely to struggle quite a bit this season and the 49ers should be able to roll at home in both of these games.

The 49ers open the season with a fourth consecutive home game, as they face the much-improved Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos. The advantage of playing at home will weigh on the 49ers, because they play a majority of their remaining games on the road.

The 49ers face another signature game in Week 5 when they go on the road to face the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. The 49ers know they have to pay the Seahawks back after losing the regular-season finale at home to Seattle and then getting overwhelmed in the divisional playoffs by a 41-6 margin.

As important as that game will be for Shanahan and his crew, the 49ers can’t turn that game into more than it is. They will have another shot at the Seahawks in Week 12, and that means they must concentrate on the games in between.

After playing in Seattle, the Niners have winnable games against the Washington Commanders (home, Week 6), the Atlanta Falcons (road, Week 7), Las Vegas Raiders (home, Week 9) and Dallas Cowboys (road, Week 10). The 49ers could dominate in all of these games, but the Cowboys could shock people this year if they can stay healthy and Dak Prescott can finish games effectively.

Gauntlet coming late in second half of the season

The Vikings meet the Niners in Week 11 at Mexico City. The 49ers could see former Cardinal Kyler Murray under center for Minnesota. He was acquired in the offseason to give J.J. McCarthy competition, and Murray’s speed and athleticism could be decisive in their battle for the QB1 position. The 49ers are quite familiar with Murray, having competed against him for the last seven seasons.

The return match with the Seahawks follows the trip out of the country, and that game may be crucial to the outcome of the regular season. A cross-country trip to face the New York Giants on the road could be problematic.

The most difficult part of the schedule follows as the Niners will host the Rams in Week 14, play the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs on the road and face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 at home. The Chargers are expecting to contend for the AFC West behind head coach Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert. The Chiefs are hoping to rebound after their disastrous 2025 season. The Eagles will remember that the 49ers beat them in the playoffs on their home turf at Lincoln Financial Field on a pair of 4th quarter Christian McCaffrey touchdown receptions.

The 49ers could be in great shape going into this four-game stint, but the outcome of those four games will likely determine the success they have in 2026.

They close the season with a road game against the Cardinals, a team that could be in contention for the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.