The postseason is just starting, but the NFL has already let the 49ers know who they will be playing next season.
As champions of the NFC West, the 49ers will play the first-place teams in the AFC West, the NFC East, and the NFC South.
The schedule also has the NFC West paired with the NFC North and AFC East in 2024.
The dates and possible international locations of these games won’t be released until the spring, but here are the opponents, with a few far-too-early thoughts on each:
Home games
Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks
The NFC West has a chance to be the best division in football again in 2024. Now, Seattle needs to decide on giving Geno Smith another year or pivoting to the future, but the Rams made the playoffs despite low expectations coming into the season, and the Cardinals appear to be on the right path with Jonathan Gannon as their head coach and Kyler Murray as their quarterback.
Chicago Bears
Hosting a rookie quarterback and perhaps a new head coach? Good work if you can find it.
Detroit Lions
It’s a guaranteed prime-time game. It’ll also be Jared Goff’s first trip to the Bay as Detroit’s quarterback.
New York Jets
America’s foremost oracle, Aaron Rodgers, returns to the Bay — unless the CIA prevents it. Expect a nice ovation for Robert Saleh, though.
New England Patriots
See: the Bears.
But seriously, the Patriots are not a team that will jump back to respectability in one year, no matter who is in charge. If you’re going to draw them, 2024 is the year.
Kansas City Chiefs
It’s another guaranteed prime-time game. It’s a Super Bowl rematch from 2019. (And 2023?)
Dallas Cowboys
This is starting to feel like a rivalry again (save for the 49ers owning the ‘Boys). Another playoff matchup could put it over the top ahead of this game.
Road games
Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks
It’ll be interesting to see when the Niners and Rams play. Later isn’t always better, as we found out Sunday.
Green Bay Packers
In this matchup, the earlier in the season this comes, the better. Covering a playoff game at Lambeau Field was a pleasure, but I was in a press box. I wish that level of cold and desolation on no man, much less a paying customer. I grew up in the Midwest, and going to Green Bay in the winter was like playing football in Siberia.
Minnesota Vikings
At least these guys have the good sense to play in a dome. Brock Purdy redemption in Minneapolis?
Miami Dolphins
The student, Mike McDaniel, hosts the master, Kyle Shanahan. But might he be hosting in Sao Paolo, Brazil? The NFL will play five international games next season — three in London, one in Munich, and one in Sao Paolo. The Dolphins are designated as Brazil’s team. The NFL would be wise to start its South American foray by exporting one of its premier matchups.
Buffalo Bills
I’d say this will be a prime-time game, but this might also be an international game. Yes, I think the 49ers will use their passports in ’24. The Bills are looking to build a new stadium in upstate New York. That’s going to require some co-signing from the NFL. The price the Bills pay for that kind of financial backing? Playing a lot of international games. I wonder how those ridiculous gold chains with the oversized 49ers logos will be received in London.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This, too, could be an international game. The NFL has one contest in Munich next year, and the Buccaneers are one of five teams with “rights” to the German market. Needless to say, we all know where Dieter Kurtenbach would prefer to go next season.
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