The San Francisco 49ers now know when they will face their opponents this coming season after last week’s release of the 2023 NFL schedule.

It looks to be another challenging but fun season, with the 49ers having marquee match-ups against formidable opponents such as last year’s NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.

And though the 49ers are one of the favorites to make it to Super Bowl LVIII, the road will not be an easy one.

Here are three breakdowns of the 49ers 2023 schedule.

TRAVELING WARRIORS

The 49ers and the rest of the NFC West division will have games against both the NFC East and the AFC North this season; with an additional road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars for San Francisco.

With road games against teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers (Season Opener, Sun. Sept. 10th, 10:00 a.m. Pacific), Cleveland Browns and the Eagles, the 49ers will have over 29,000 air miles; which is second only to the Seattle Seahawks.

Out of he 49ers nine road games this year, four of those will be 10 a.m. (Pacific Time) start times.

Yikes!

TIS THE SEASON FOR 49ERS FOOTBALL

Prime Time television will have its fair share of 49ers football as they are slated for five night games; including two during the Holiday season.

During what will be a critical stretch in the 2023 season, the 49ers will play on both Thanksgiving AND Christmas Day.

The 49ers travel to the Pacific Northwest on Thanksgiving night (Thu. Nov. 23, 5:20 p.m. Pacific) to take on the division rival Seahawks (more on them in a moment); while on Christmas evening (Mon. Dec. 25th, 5:15 p.m. Pacific) they will host Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

As playoff positioning heats up during the latter part of the year, the 49ers will look to make it a Happy Holiday season for the Niner Faithful.

THE “SEATTLE SANDWICH“

Now back to Seattle…

The 49ers will not face the Seahawks until their Thanksgiving meeting during Week 12, but it won’t be very long before the two teams square off again Week 14 (Dec 10th, 1:05 p.m. Pacific) at Levi’s Stadium.

Last season, the 49ers defeated the Seahawks three times; including a 41-23 victory in the NFC Wildcard round where last year’s Mr. Irrelevant quarterback Brock Purdy had a total of four touchdowns (three passes and one run).

And while the 49ers will have their hands full scrapping with the Seahawks for the NFC West crown, San Francisco will also have their long awaited rematch with the Eagles Week 13 (Sun. Dec. 3rd, 1:25 p.m., Pacific).

The 49ers have had all off-season to reflect on their disappointing 31-7 loss to the Eagles in last year’s NFC Championship game; and it has been a war of words between both sides since.

The complexity of that NFC title game changed when Purdy was knocked out of the game by Eagles linebacker Hassan Reddick with a torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL).

Though Purdy would gut it out and return to the game, it was clear that the injury compromised his ability to perform and the 49ers offense became one-dimensional.

What the outcome of that game had been, if Purdy stays healthy, will be a mystery; but the 49ers would have at least had a fighting chance.

How healthy the 49ers are as a unit will be key in their Week 13 match-up with the Eagles, but regardless there can be no more excuses.