Predicting the rest of the 49ers 2023 regular season schedule

Nov 7, 2023, 8:15 AM | Updated: 8:45 am

Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after an interception during t...

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San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

How are we already at Week 10 of the 2023 NFL regular season, it’s feels like we were just getting ready for kickoff in September.

Nevertheless, that is the reality as teams look to rally with only eight weeks of promised football remaining. Some franchises are in a good spot, running the table in their respective conferences. While others, the San Francisco 49ers, are looking to regain their early-season form to make a late push.

The 49ers currently sit at 5-3 after their bye week. After starting 5-0, the Red & Gold have crashed back to earth over the last month of the season with three straight losses. And while SF is known to rally on the second half of seasons, their remaining schedule is anything but a cakewalk.

But, could the addition of defensive end Chase Young be the spark that this squad needs? We’ll have to wait and see. Here’s how we see the rest of their 49ers 2023 regular season schedule shaking out.

Chase Young and Nick Bosa, former teammates at Ohio State, immediately began talking shop at their first 49ers practice together pic.twitter.com/sEkCntD9UF

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 6, 2023

Week 10 @ Jaguars

Score prediction: 28-20 49ers

Record: 6-3

The 49ers always seem to rally around the bye week. Last season they did so by dominating the Rams, 31-14, before, and then holding on to beat the Chargers, 22-16, two weeks later. This time around, San Francisco needs to respond similarly by beating the AFC South leader on the road.

Jacksonville has been superb up to this point, coming off their own bye at 6-2. They have bounced back from a Week 3 loss to the Houston Texans by going on a five-game win streak. Those wins include the Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, and most recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, every emerging team is bound to slip up here and there. Why not against the 49ers?

It doesn’t help that one of their starting cornerbacks and free safety are banged up at the moment. On top of that, the offensive line is a league-average group, featuring rookie right tackle Anton Harrison. 49ers pass rushers Nick Bosa and Chase Young should exploit that weakness frequently, causing the pocket to collapse on quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Don’t be mistaken, Week 10’s clash will be a competitive one for the Red & Gold, but one that the better team (SF) should win in the end.

Week 11 vs Buccaneers

Score prediction: 27-10 49ers

Record: 7-3

Credit where credit is due, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a competitive football team with Baker Mayfield at the helm.

While Tampa Bay is on a four-game losing streak, all of those games ended within one score. And if not for the heroics of rookie phenom C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans, Mayfield and Co. would have their fourth win of the year.

Because of that, the Buccaneers will look to get back in the win column in Week 10, at home versus the Tennessee Titans. And because of that, the 49ers a week later.

San Francisco thumped Tampa last season, 35-7, and that was with Tom Brady under center. Additionally, Nick Bosa loves playing Baker Mayfield, something about an old college rivalry I believe. The Bucs’ offensive line is even worse than Jacksonville’s, allowing the 49ers’ defense to swarm in the backfield.

Two straight wins out of the bye sounds about right for the 49ers.

Week 12 @ Seahawks (Thanksgiving)

Score prediction: 24-21 Seahawks

Record: 7-4

The biggest threat to the 49ers repeating as NFC West champions remains the Seattle Seahawks.

The divisional rivals last met in the 2023 postseason, with San Francisco taking care of business, 41-23. In fact, the 49ers swept the Seahawks last season.

That won’t happen this season…probably.

San Francisco and Seattle meet for the first time this season on Thanksgiving, before playing each other once more, two weeks later. I say the home teams take the dubs, this time being Seattle.

A Turkey Day clash at Lumen Field promises to be exciting nonetheless, with both teams trading blows throughout. But, the 49ers haven’t been great against the run this season and that could be the difference here. And if QB Geno Smith gets going, look out, it’s shootout time.

It’ll be close, but Thanksgiving sees the Red & Gold drop to 7-4 on the season.

Week 13 @ Eagles

Score prediction: 31-21 Eagles

Record: 7-5

Another losing streak for the 49ers this season? Maybe.

As much as we wonder how different the NFC Championship Game would have been if Brock Purdy didn’t get hurt, most still saw Philly winning in the end. That should follow suit this season, especially since the game will be held at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been red hot in 2023, on top of the NFL at 8-1. If not for a fluky loss to the New York Jets, the Dirty Birds would be undefeated.

While the 49ers have been super up and down this year, on both sides of the football.

That doesn’t bode well for the Red & Gold, especially on the road against the cream of the crop. The 49ers will hang in for a bit, but Philly pulling away in the fourth quarter sounds about right.

The third time the charm in the postseason?

Week 14 vs Seahawks

Score prediction: 30-17 49ers

Record: 8-5

Week 14 turns into a must-win game for the 49ers, and a win is what they get at Levi’s Stadium.

Losing to Seattle and Philadelphia two weeks in a row should light a fire under coach Kyle Shanahan like no other. And in turn, that should fire the team up even more. The offense will be clicking from the jump, with Levi’s cheering them on throughout. Defensively, the 49ers will swarm on all three levels, making life hell for Geno Smith.

On top of that, Seattle is coming off a one-week road trip to Dallas.

Yeah, give me the 49ers winning in big fashion.

Week 15 @ Cardinals

Score prediction: 31-14 49ers

Record: 9-5

Honestly, even with Kyler Murray under center, Arizona doesn’t have the firepower to compete with San Francisco at the moment. In fact, the Cardinals haven’t beaten the 49ers since 2021, and that should continue into 2024.

Week 14’s win over Seattle will be the springboard game for SF, looking to build on that performance against a lesser divisional foe like Arizona. Their defense is still bad, and their offense is super wait-and-see with Murray coming off an ACL injury. And at that point in the season, the Cards may the looking to tank for a higher draft pick anyway.

Point being, this should be a simple game for the 49ers to sweep the season series.

Week 16 vs Ravens (Christmas)

Score prediction: 24-21 Ravens

Record: 9-6

There are few games in a season where a team will feel good about their performance despite a losing effort, this could be one of those times for the 49ers.

San Francisco’s final primetime game of the regular season sees them host QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Christmas night.

Baltimore has been arguably the best team in the AFC this season at 7-2. They run a 49ers-esque offense of efficient ground attack, chewing up the clock as they match downfield.

Defense is their bread and butter though, ranked first in total points allowed (124) and points per game (13.8). Their latest performance fortified those numbers further, holding Seattle to three points.

Three points!!!

The Ravens are the most complete team in the AFC. And barring an injury, they should remain that way.

The 49ers will give them a massive test, especially on the road. But in the end, Baltimore’s defense might be their saving grace late.

A great holiday game that ends with both teams encouraged by their resilience.

Week 17 @ Commanders

Score prediction: 27-14 49ers

Record: 10-6

On the road at Washington on a short week may seem like a tall task, but the 49ers have to win to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

Coming off a tough loss at home, the Red & Gold will be determined to walk out of FedEx Field with a win.

The offense will move throughout the game, reassured after performing well against the Ravens. Plus, the Commanders shipped off both DEs Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline, leaving them exposed for outside zone runs.

The 49ers defense will keep QB Sam Howell busy, creating pressures throughout the game. That happened last season when Washington came to Santa Clara in Week 16.

Oh and did I forget to mention, the Chase Young revenge game?

You never know.

Regardless, the 49ers should win this East Coast contest to move to 10 wins.

Week 18 vs Rams

Score prediction: 27-20 49ers

Record: 11-6

In July, I wrote this:

A game that could decide the division and other playoff implications.

And look where we are.

Week 18 of the 2023 regular season could mean a few things for the 49ers, with one of them being divisional standings. The other could be conference ranking, looking to have a home playoff game in at least Round 1.

Whatever the reason may be at that time, Rams-49ers gets a little more interesting.

While the Rams will likely be out of the running, that shouldn’t stop them from trying to beat a division foe on the last day of the year. Sean McVay will be up for this one, especially if SF is neck & neck with Seattle for the NFC West.

Additionally, QB Matthew Stafford could be healed to 100% from his thumb injury by then. Or he could get injured again, you never know with aging gunslingers.

However, Stafford or not, I don’t see the 49ers losing a must-win game at home. Purdy & Co. will do just enough to win the contest, therefore locking up the division.

Finishing with a record of 11-6, the Red & Gold look forward to a home playoff game on Wild-Card weekend.