49ers Game-by-Game Predictions for 2024 from Maiocco originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
The last time the 49ers went to the Super Bowl (and lost), the organization suffered a steep decline the following season, finishing 6-10 in 2020.
San Francisco is hoping to avoid a similar outcome during the 2024 NFL season, and now knows the path it will have to take to return to the top of the mountain, as the league released the full schedule Wednesday.
The 49ers are coming off a season in which they clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and then pulled off two comeback victories to win the conference title. But they fell short of their ultimate goal with a 25–22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. Still, the 49ers know they are the target of every team in the NFC.
And they will face many challenges along the way, including six games against NFC playoff teams a year ago. The 49ers will also face AFC powerhouses Kansas City and Buffalo.
With the release of the 2024 regular season schedule, it’s also time for us to make our very early predictions for next year. We imagine the 49ers producing similar results to a year ago when they went 12-5 and won first place.
Check out the schedule that awaits you, with predicted scores for each game:
Aaron Rodgers’ Jets debut a year ago on “Monday Night Football” was a much-lauded occasion. Then it all ended after four plays when he went down with a torn left Achilles tendon.
Rodgers suffered the season-ending injury when Leonard Floyd fired him. Floyd now he’s with the 49erswho expects to receive more production from him than from anyone who starred opposite Nick Bosa last season.
This is also when the Brock Purdy Gets Paid tour begins. This is Purdy’s senior year will play for minimum wagebecause if he performs similar to his spectacular 2023 season, he hopes to become one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
Prediction: 49ers 24, Jets 13
Week 2: at Minnesota — Sunday, September 15, 10am PT (CBS)
The Vikings signed Sam Darnold, the 49ers’ backup last season, on a one-year, $10 million contract to serve as the team’s starter until someone better comes along. How long will it take for JJ McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, to be considered better than Darnold?
The 49ers haven’t won a game in Minneapolis since 1992 and snap a seven-game losing streak against the Vikings heading into this meeting. This sequence will end here.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Vikings 13
Week 3: at LA Rams — Sunday, September 22, 1:25 pm PT (FOX)
Jon Feliciano was a happy man on March 15 for two reasons, as the veteran 49ers guard highlighted on social media: “Best day ever!! Staying in SF and retiring.” That’s right: On the day Feliciano re-signed for another season with the 49ers, Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald announced his retirement.
This is the first meeting between these teams after Donald and will take place at SoFi Stadium the 49ers home away from home. The Rams were 10-7 and a playoff team a year ago, but can they overcome the loss of one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history?
Prediction: 49ers 24, Rams 21
Week 4: vs. New England — Sunday, September 29, 1:05 pm PT (FOX)
If not Drake Maye, the third overall pick in the draft, it will likely be Jacoby Brissett (or Bailey Zappe) at quarterback for New England.
It doesn’t matter. The 49ers should be able to get out of bed and win this game in the first post-Bill Belichick meeting between these organizations.
Prediction: 49ers 27, Patriots 10
Week 5: vs. Arizona — Sunday, October 6, 1:05 pm PT (FOX)
The Cardinals have received rave reviews from draft gurus for their collection of rookies, which includes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., edge rusher Darius Robinson and defensive back Max Melton. Arizona had seven picks in the first 90 selections of the draft, so it may take a little time for all the newcomers to come together.
The 49ers outscored Arizona 80-45 in their two meetings a year ago. This season, coach Jonathan Gannon’s squad should be much more competitive.
Prediction: 49ers 28, Cardinals 23
Week 6: in Seattle — Thursday, October 10, 5:15 pm PT (Prime Video)
It just won’t be the same without gum-chewing, white-shoe-wearing Pete Carroll on the Seahawks sideline.
Seattle’s new coach, Mike Macdonald, is 36 years old and has quickly risen through the NFL coaching ranks. He comes from the Baltimore Ravens, and everyone remembers the fits their defense gave Purdy last season. Purdy threw the worst four interceptions of his career at Ravens’ surprising win on Christmas Eve.
Prediction: Seahawks 17, 49ers 13
Week 7: vs. Kansas City — Sunday, October 20, 1:25 pm PT (FOX)
This is a Super Bowl LVIII rematch. Will it be a preview of Super Bowl LIX? (That’s 59, in case you’re not totally familiar with Roman numerals.) Tom Brady will be in the broadcast booth for this game, and that’s a huge Super Bowl negative for 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have two comeback Super Bowl wins and a three-touchdown victory in Santa Clara during the 2022 regular season in their last three head-to-head matchups.
The 49ers’ selection of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round was a direct result of their need to improve against teams, like the Chiefs, who play sticky man coverage. But Kansas City has San Francisco’s number, so it’s difficult to face the champions in this position.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, 49ers 21
Week 8: vs. — Sunday, October 27, 5:20 pm PT (NBC)
Remember how the 49ers embarrassed the Cowboys last season? They won 42-10 and rubbed Dallas’ nose in it. George Kittle wore a t-shirt with a NSFW message directed at the Cowboys organization.
The Cowboys will certainly be looking for revenge. But does it matter? For a team with a lot of talent and expectations, Dallas seems to consistently deliver underwhelming results. We imagine more of the same in this game.
Prediction: 49ers 34, Cowboys 20
Week 9: Bye week
This is the third consecutive season that the 49ers’ bye week will be the week following the eighth game.
Week 10: at Tampa Bay — Sunday, November 10, 10am PT (FOX)
Baker Mayfield won the Bucs’ starting job and a three-year, $100 million contract with his performance last season. Tampa Bay won the NFC South and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs before falling to the Lions.
Bosa and the 49ers defense have given Mayfield some problems over the years and will go after him again on this day.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Buccaneers 17
Week 11: vs. seattle — Sunday, November 17, 1:05 pm PT (FOX)
Having seen the new-look Seahawks early in the season, the 49ers should be able to figure things out, avenge their loss in the short week and assert control of the NFC West before facing the most challenging two-game stretch of the season.
Prediction: 49ers 24, Seahawks 13
Week 12: at Green Bay — Sunday, November 24, 1:25 pm PT (FOX)
The Packers had their sights set on upsetting the NFC’s No. 1 seed last season, just as the 49ers did to Green Bay in the 2021 playoffs when these teams met at Levi’s Stadium. Jordan Love is a talented player, but he threw two costly interceptions in the second half, and the 49ers avoided upset in divisional round.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who threw those interceptions against Love, should be back for this game and near the middle of the season after supporting a torn left Achilles tendon at the Super Bowl. He plans to open the season on the PUP list.
Prediction: Packers 24, 49ers 20
Week 13: at Buffalo — Sunday, December 1, 5:20 pm PT (NBC)
This game was made for prime time.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who grew up in the Central Valley town of Firebaugh, dreamed of playing for the 49ers. Well, he was a nightmare for them in 2020 when he faced his boyhood team, throwing for 375 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-24 victory.
When Allen is on his game, he can be virtually unstoppable. Other times, he can make some tricky plays that open the door for the opponent. He’s never boring, that’s for sure.
Prediction: Bills 31, 49ers 24
Week 14: vs. Chicago — Sunday, December 8, 1:25 pm PT (FOX)
This is yet another matchup between the No. 1 overall pick and the final pick in the draft. We’ve seen this storyline several times before, but now it’s someone new. Quarterback Caleb Williams was the Bears’ first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, replacing Justin Fields.
Have the Bears finally found their answer at quarterback? New 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen can show off his plotting and playmaking talents on the Levi’s Stadium sideline to make life difficult for the rookie.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Bears 9
Week 15: vs. — Thursday, December 12, 5:15 pm PT (Prime Video)
The Rams had a real draft for the first time in a long time, and the younger players will become more comfortable and productive as the season progresses. Rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske won’t make up for Donald’s departure, but they will help LA’s defense remain competitive.
But where the Rams could be tough is on the other end…if everyone stays healthy. Matthew Stafford’s throw to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua creates problems for any defense.
Prediction: Rams 27, 49ers 23
Week 16: at Miami — Sunday, December 22, 1:25 pm PT (CBS)
Mike McDaniel’s team was built for speed. The Dolphins can be electric on offense. But they can also be crushed by sheer physicality.
That’s where the 49ers shine, and that’s why Shanahan will have the advantage against your student in this confrontation.
Prediction: 49ers 35, Dolphins 30
Week 17: vs. Detroit — Monday, December 30, 5:15 pm PT (ESPN)
This time, it won’t come down to a few fourth-down misses by Detroit to open the door to a big comeback win in San Francisco. Jared Goff, the newly minted $53 million per year QBwill do his part in the plays, but the 49ers’ firepower will be too much.
The Lions will take a step back this season instead of using his crushing defeat in the NFC championship game for the 49ers as a stepping stone to greater things to come.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Lions 21
Week 18: at Arizona — Saturday, January 4th or Sunday, January 5th, time to be determined
The Cardinals finished last season with a 4-13 record. They will improve and have more than four wins at this point. But they still won’t be able to advance against the 49ers, as Purdy, an Arizona native, is in for another big day (that is, if he takes the field with the playoffs on the horizon).
Prediction: 49ers 27, Cardinals 13
