49ers 2012 Opponents: Packers, Saints, Patriots Loom Large

by David Fucillo on Dec 13, 2011 12:00 PM PST in 49ers NFL Schedule

The 2011 NFL season is a long way from completion, but we already have a good idea of the 49ers 2012 opponents. The league does not release the schedule until next spring, but we can still take a look at who the 49ers will be playing next season (thanks for confirmation from 49ers.com). And thanks to a strong 2011 season, as well as just the quirks of the scheduling process, the 49ers will be tested quite a bit next season.

As it currently stands, the NFC West faces the AFC East and the NFC North in 2011. That means teams like the Packers, Lions, Patriots and Jets are all on the schedule. Additionally, the 49ers get one game against the NFC East and one game against the NFC South. Their opponent in those games is determined based on standings. Since the 49ers are going to finish in first in the NFC West, they get the first place team from the East and South. The Saints haven't officially clinched, but with a two-game lead and three to play, they are likely going to clinch. The East will be either the Giants or the Cowboys, although technically Philly is still alive.

I've posted the home and away opponents, with the NFC East and South division winner still technically up in the air. The 49ers will have their share of weak opponents, but with games against the Patriots, Packers, Saints, Lions and Jets, among others, it is going to be a difficult schedule.

Given the 49ers 2011 performance, it also likely means a significant slate of primetime games. They can't all be primetime, but if 49ers-Lions is not SNF or MNF I would be shocked. The television schedule will also depend in part on how the season closes and who wins the Super Bowl. Depending on what the NFC title game looks like, I could see a Packers-Saints repeat or a Packers-49ers NFL Thursday season opener.

HOME: Packers, Vikings, Dolphins, Bills, Giants/Cowboys/Eagles, Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks

AWAY: Lions, Bears, Saints/Falcons, Patriots, Jets, Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks

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Thursday opener

If the Niners win the SB, you can bet the Giants/Cowboys winner will open here on TNF (unless Detroit or Chicago come here for a playoff game). If NO, GB, or NE wins the SB, the Niners may open on the road at that team. Either way, fun times and lots of apparent marquee games.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Dec 13, 2011 12:10 PM PST reply actions

I just realized that I read it flipped

I thought the Niners and AZ share the same home/road opponents? That would mean flipping the NFC North locations.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Dec 13, 2011 12:11 PM PST up reply actions

Next year is gonna be a touchie.

Hope our offense can get sorted out by then.

extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."

by Badly Browned on Dec 13, 2011 12:11 PM PST reply actions

Oops

toughie*

extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."

by Badly Browned on Dec 13, 2011 12:12 PM PST up reply actions

Hell, while we're at it

I hope the offense gets sorted out come playoffs lol

extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."

by Badly Browned on Dec 13, 2011 12:12 PM PST up reply actions

So was this year

NFC East plus the best division of 2011: AFC North. Then the second place team in the second best division: Lions. Also, add in five trips to the eastern time zone.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Dec 13, 2011 12:17 PM PST up reply actions

If the scheduling holds...

It looks like the niners would play 3 or 4 games (depending on the result of the NFC south) in the eastern TZ and 2 – 3 games in the central TZ… almost the same as this year.

Hopefully the league does not put them back to back or after a short week.

by NinerFanTucson on Dec 13, 2011 3:04 PM PST up reply actions

we could stay in the east like we did this year

by dalien82 on Dec 13, 2011 9:12 PM PST up reply actions

I think a few road night games will alleviate the early start times

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Dec 14, 2011 2:51 AM PST up reply actions

Wish the Vikings were playing the niners in MN

I went to the game a couple of years ago. Was pretty wicked.

by Perradin Falcon on Dec 13, 2011 12:36 PM PST reply actions

That's a lot of elite quarterbacks

Brady, Rodgers, and Brees? With Cutler, Stafford, and Romo/Eli waiting to break out? The 49ers are going to have to invest some serious money in this secondary if they want to be competitive next year.

by ninerspride on Dec 13, 2011 12:36 PM PST reply actions

Secondary, QB, and OL

But who’s counting?

by scrappydog on Dec 13, 2011 2:21 PM PST up reply actions

You never know

How good these teams will next year. There could be a key QB injury, or the team as a whole could just crap the bed.

by Perradin Falcon on Dec 13, 2011 12:42 PM PST reply actions

Remember all that stuff with the Jets?

I remember Fat Rex saying ’I’d love to play them’ and Singletary responding that he’d play them in the street or anywhere else. Something to do with Crabtree wasn’t it? I’d love to play them now – have some of our defense Fat Rex! Hope your Sanchise quarterback gets a good view of Aldon Smith while he’s laying on the turf.

by LondonNiner on Dec 13, 2011 12:58 PM PST reply actions

It’s always easier to turn a team around (softer schedule) then it is to maintain it. It will be a great test of the entire organization to put together back-to-back seasons that are successful.

But, for now, I’m happy to finally be watching Niner games that matter.

by sivousplay on Dec 13, 2011 1:00 PM PST reply actions

Our schedule wasn't easy this season.

Don’t be fooled.

Alex Smith 86%+ QB rating with 22+ TDs this season, hopefully! :)

by teekay on Dec 13, 2011 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I agree

Cowboys, Eagles, Bucs, Lions, Giants, Ravens, Steelers for the most part were pre-season pics to make the playoffs. The Niners have obviously played very well this year against a reasonable schedule, but if you tally up the records of who we’ve played, it’s still sub-.500 due to some teams (Eagles/Bucs) not reaching expectations and I sense that next years schedule will be as much above .500 as this one is below .500.

by sivousplay on Dec 13, 2011 2:18 PM PST up reply actions

The entire NFC East was expected to be better this year lol

by sanfranfanmdk on Dec 13, 2011 2:29 PM PST up reply actions

In some ways

It’s nice to have the weaker opponents at home. Dolphins, Bills and Vikings would all be dangerous games away, but we’ve got a great shot at home. Throw in 2 home wins and 2 away wins from the NFC west, and we’d need just 2 wins on the road to get another wining season. Could see us beating the Lions again, the Bears and the Jets.

Saints are tough at home and Patriots are nearly impossible. Still, 11-5 seems completely reasonable looking over next year’s schedule. Even if we end 13-3 this year, I’d see 11-5 as an improvement. Two years of solid performances, playoff seeding and success regardless of the schedule strength.

by reedkrase on Dec 13, 2011 1:30 PM PST reply actions

Still focused on Pittsburgh this weekend but I guess that's just me...

Either way I’m sure next year things will continue for the better as they have been already for the 49ers organization.

Aheemm, now about that CB the team needs to draft because Terrell Brown is the weak link. I just don’t see him stopping/containing the list of QB/WR combos the 49ers will face next year.

Niners,Nets,Reds & USC!!!

The Most Interesting Man In The World---->Mikhail Prokhorov!!!

by Kidd2Petrovic on Dec 13, 2011 1:37 PM PST reply actions

Dang....we better draft more Pass Rushers & C.B.'s with that schedule !

by BigMar on Dec 13, 2011 2:01 PM PST reply actions

I think we need one of those 6’4" corner

by mrb24 on Dec 13, 2011 3:01 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Better but not better next year.

I think the 49ers will be a better team next year. The offense will have more reps under Harbaugh’s system. Hopefully Baalke will put together another good draft and FA period. The players will buy in some more and understand everything better.

However, there are a few guys having career years and playing for contracts. There is a really tough schedule next year. And we have got some good bounces this year.

I would say the team plays better but the record isn’t as good. And I don’t know how far we are going to go in the playoffs this year but next year I am going to have more faith.

Joe, Jerry, Steve, and....Who is next?

by 16to80fan on Dec 13, 2011 2:06 PM PST reply actions

Nice , the Packers coming to the Stick ...

… for a revenge game after the Niners beat them in the NFC Championship game …!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!

by Edggy on Dec 13, 2011 6:53 PM PST reply actions