We went through our predictions for how many games the San Francisco 49ers will win. We’ll go through different outcomes using examples of previous iterations of the 49ers on Tuesday.
Now, it’s time for a different perspective on the same activity. We tracked down writers who cover the teams on the 49ers schedule to see their week-by-week picks and how they had the 49ers games playing out.
Most of the following insights come from our fellow SB Nation NFL communities, but we had to outsource in a few
cases where game-by-game record predictions were unavailable.
Here is how the 49ers will finish, from an outsider’s perspective. Some fans are realistic. Others just won the Super Bowl and believe their team will go 14-3. Let’s get into it.
Week 1: “@” Rams
Turf Show Times
The 49ers will be at full strength and healthy to start the year (aside from George Kittle), something they struggled to be all throughout 2025. Most notably Fred Warner and Nick Bosa will be back on the defensive side of the ball, giving their defense a huge lift.
The only benefit may be the Rams facing the 49ers with a new defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris. But Morris got the better of McVay in Week 17 as the head coach of the Falcons.
Prediction: 49ers win 27-24 / Rams record: 0-1
Week 2: vs. Dolphins
Phinsider – Loss
Miami, starting with two games on the road, is a little rough, but the league did hook the team up by giving it both of its Pacific time zone games over those two weeks. The Dolphins will likely stay out west after the Raiders game to get ready for the 49ers contest without adding in additional flights from South Florida and back. That is good for a team that will travel the most air miles in the league this season without an international game on the schedule.
Bruno Mars is scheduled to have concerts on the Friday and Saturday nights before Week 2, making it unlikely the Dolphins could have had a home game that weekend.
No one likes long-distance travel, but that is what Miami will do this year. The 49ers came up short of reaching the NFC Championship Game, but they play in the toughest NFC division. Back-to-back road games aren’t ideal to start a season, but at least Miami gets both of its West Coast games out of the way early.
Week 3: vs. Cardinals
Revenge of the Birds – Loss
If the Cardinals had been even a bit competitive against the 49ers last year with Jacoby Brissett, maybe you can see something here, but they were blown out so fast that we applauded a passing performance that saw Brissett throw the ball 57 times and score 22 points.
Week 4: vs. Broncos
Mile High Report
This could be the Broncos’ first loss. It will be early in the season, and the Niners probably won’t all be on IR just yet. Still, it will be close and could go either way if CMAC or George Kittle is limited, which is highly likely. I’m an optimist, Broncos with a winning field goal in a 4th-quarter comeback, 17-16.
Week 5: @ Seahawks
Field Gulls
W (5-0)
Last year’s Divisional Round may be a sign of a changing trend. That was the Seahawks’ first win against the 49ers at Lumen Field since 2021, and there is reason to believe that Seattle will be able to defend its home turf again this year. This is a crucial chance for the Seahawks to establish themselves in the division early on, and there is a good chance that Seattle’s recent momentum vs. San Francisco will carry over into this coming season.
Week 6: vs. Commanders
Hogs Haven
The San Francisco 49ers had injury issues as bad as Washington last season, but were still able to get to the playoffs (and eliminate the Eagles). Their depth and coaching were strong enough to push the team to a 12-5 record. The Commanders have to travel to California to play them this year, and this looks like a loss before the team heads into their Week 7 bye to recover and reassess for the rest of the season.
Week 7: @ Falcons
Falcoholic
Week 7: Falcons vs. 49ers: Win
The 49ers will be tough, too, but I didn’t love their offseason and the team’s run of injuries has been legendary. As good as they are, Atlanta’s 2-2 against the 49ers and beat them in the tough 2019 and 2022 seasons. I think they can get this one at home, especially if their pass rush is back to full strength after what I assume is a six week suspension looming for James Pearce Jr.
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: vs. Raiders
Silver and Black Pride
Week 9: @ San Francisco 49ers
Prediction: Loss
Injuries have plagued the 49ers, and the infamous electrical substation is still sitting right next to the practice facility. Granted, the organization did its own research and determined that it was nothing more than a fun social media conspiracy. Regardless, San Francisco is a well-coached team that also has a lot of talent to take care of a young club in Vegas.
Week 10: @ Cowboys
Blogging the Boys
The 49ers are on the schedule and the nightmares come back in an instant. San Francisco has stood in the way of the Cowboys realizing their dream a couple of times in recent years. The 49ers have won four in a row over Dallas, and they make it five with another win.
Cowboys lose: 6-4 record
Week 11: vs. Vikings
Daily Norseman
This year, they’ll play another international game, but as we’ve already mentioned, the travel arrangements for that one may actually favor them more than they do the team that’s actually the “home” team for that contest, the San Francisco 49ers. Incidentally, Mexico City, where the Vikings’ international game is being played this year, is around 7,200 feet above sea level. I wonder what Will Reichard’s field goal range is at 7,200 feet above sea level.
Week 12: vs. Seahawks
Field Gulls
L (9-2)
Division games between two similarly matched opponents can go in favor of either team, and this is no exception. Yes, the Seahawks went 2-0 at Levi’s Stadium last year, but division contests are among the toughest matchups to predict. Kyle Shanahan’s squad will likely be eager to avenge their recent losses against Seattle, especially as the Seahawks are coming out of their bye week.
Week 13: @ Giants
Big Blue View
The 49ers are a tough team to figure right now. Their core is aging and they could be stumbling as the weather turns cold. However, if Mike Evans, Chris McCaffrey, George Kittle, and the rest of those guys are healthy, Kyle Shanahan’s EPA machine will keep humming right along.
This is a game to circle as a potential upset win if the Giants are competitive and closing out games at this point in the year. But I’m
Pick – 49ers (7-5)
Week 14: vs. Rams
The 49ers got the Rams win in Week 1 but the Rams get revenge in Santa Clara in Week 14. Probably because the 49ers have accrued some injuries…
Prediction: Rams win 33-24 / Rams record: 10-3
Week 15: @ Chargers
Bolts from the Blue
This game should have a massive impact on both playoff races in the AFC and NFC. The Niners will be in the thick of things in the NFC while the Chargers could be riding a long win streak going into the contest. Look for the Chargers to put up a fight, but the Niners should prevail here if they are healthy at this point in the season.
49ers 28, Chargers 21
Week 16: @ Chiefs
Arrowhead Pride
It’s easy to see how there could be much more bad blood on one side of this interconference contest than the other, the one who emerged victorious in both Super Bowl LIV and LVIII. Those wounds are still fresh, and could be an X-factor amid a playoff push I assume San Francisco will be making.
This could also be a look-ahead spot for the division-leading Chiefs to a game that could potentially decide the AFC West.
Chiefs lose (11-4)
Week 17: vs. Eagles
Bleeding Green Nation
The Whiners will be pushing for a playoff spot in a loaded NFC West. This will be a result of the replica (Sean Mannion) being lesser than the real thing (Kyle Shanahan) in a similar vein to how Vic Fangio’s assistant do not measure up to the veteran defensive coordinator himself.
EAGLES LOSE: 10-6
Week 18: @ Cardinals
Week 18 games are always screwy, but I will say the Niners have something to play for.
Judging by the responses, the 49ers are poised for another double-digit winning season and should win 12 games in 2026 from an outsider’s perspective.
Plenty of 49ers fans believe the latter portion of the schedule will be by far and away their toughest stretch, but the opposition views the 49ers as just as much of a challenge. That was the most surprising part of this exercise. If the 49ers get out of that stretch with only two losses, they’re looking at a potential bye week.
That would also assume they take care of business before the bye week. The Falcons predicting a win isn’t that far of a stretch. In the NFL, anything can happen. A 12-win season appears to be doable, provided injuries don’t get the best of the Niners once again.
