San Francisco 49ers' 2024 NFL Schedule: Release date, opponents, biggest games, and predictions

With the NFL Draft in the books, the focus for the San Francisco 49ers now turns to readying the team for another Super Bowl push through OTAs and training camp.

The Niners already know who they will be playing in the regular season as they look to get back to the big game having been one play away from winning the Lombardi Trophy in their overtime defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in February.

But we will likely soon learn when they will face those opponents, with the schedule release on the horizon.

With that in mind, let’s look at what we already know about the schedule and make some predictions about what we might soon learn.

49ers' Schedule Release Date

The NFL has hinted that the schedules will be released in May, but there is no confirmed date as yet. In the last couple years, it has typically come out around the second or third week of May. It was released on May 12, 2022, and May 11, 2023.

Come back to this post when the schedule releases to find the full thing.

Home and Away Opponents

Home games: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs

Away games: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

Biggest Games on the 49ers' 2024 Schedule

49ers vs. Chiefs: This one doesn't need much of an explainer. A rematch of a thrilling Super Bowl that produced another gut-wrenching defeat for the Niners, Levi's Stadium will be baying for a win over Patrick Mahomes and Co. It would not heal any of the wounds from those Super Bowl losses, but it might provide some confidence the 49ers can get over the line if they face their tormenter on the biggest stage again.

49ers vs. Lions: Another rematch, this time of the NFC Championship Game that saw the 49ers produce an historic comeback in fighting back from 24-7 down at halftime to win 34-31. With both teams expected to be at the sharp end of the conference again in 2024, there's every chance it could also serve as a title game preview.

49ers at Packers: Are you sensing a theme here? The 49ers will head to Lambeau Field in the regular season for the first time since 2018 — they won a pretty big playoff game there in the interim — in a game that will see San Francisco face another postseason opponent from last season. San Francisco squeaked by the Packers in a downpour at Levi's Stadium in the Divisional round, fighting back from 21-14 down to win 24-21. Whether it's a beautiful fall day or a vintage frigid Green Bay night, Brock Purdy will be happy for anything but rain in this one.

49ers vs. Jets: A bonus one. Kyle Shanahan going up against his former defensive coordinator in Robert Saleh, Aaron Rodgers playing against his boyhood team, and the one that has tormented him in the postseason for years, for potentially the last time, there's so much to intrigue in this interconfertnce matchup.

Predicting Primetime Matchups and Week 1/Week 18 Opponents

Which games will be primetime viewing?

The 49ers had five primetime games last season and it’s tough to see them having any less in 2024 following their Super Bowl run.

The rematches with the Lions and Chiefs are obvious candidates for primetime treatment along with the latest edition of a rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys that the 49ers have dominated of late.

A night under the lights at Lambeau can’t be ruled out, while a duel with Josh Allen’s Bills and the second coaching matchup between Kyle Shanahan and Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel also carry primetime appeal, as does the renewal of acquaintances with Mr. Rodgers.

In addition to primetime games, the 49ers could well face the Vikings overseas. Minnesota is scheduled to host a game in London, where the Niners have not played since 2013. With a massive and passionate fanbase in an area where the 49ers have international marketing rights, it makes perfect sense San Francisco to be the road team at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Who are the Week 1 and Week 18 opponents?

Had the 49ers held on against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, they would be starting Week 1 with a Thursday night home opener. Instead, they will likely be contenders to get the Sunday Night Football treatment right off the bat. A primetime opener against the Lions would be a great way to shake off any lingering disappointment from last season.

The final week of the season will almost certainly be reserved for a divisional matchup. After ending against the Cardinals in 2022 and the Rams in 2023, a road game with the Seahawks to close the regular season seems a good bet.

Strength of Schedule (based off Vegas win totals, not the 2023 record)

Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis does this cool thing every year where he ranks teams' strength of schedule based off Vegas' projected win totals for the upcoming season. He doesn't base it off the standard model that looks at the previous season’s win-loss record and it makes a lot more sense, because of all the change teams go through during the offseason.

At the time of this publication, he hasn't updated it to reflect Vegas' updated, post-draft totals and I'll update this once the information becomes available. At the time of writing, Sharp has the 49ers’ schedule as the 14th-toughest in the NFL.