I missed this news over the weekend, but it turns out, we now know the final opponent on the San Francisco 49ers 2017 schedule. We looked at the formula prior to last weekend, and with Week 16 results, we now know the 49ers will host the Carolina Panthers next season.
The 49ers host the NFC South team that finishes with the same divisional position. It was between the Panthers and the New Orleans Saints. If the Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend and the Saints lose to the Atlanta Falcons, they would be tied at 7-9. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head, which they split. The second tiebreaker is divisional record, which would be even at 2-4 based on these results. The third tiebreaker is record against common opponents. Among those common opponents, the Panthers enter this weekend 4-7, while the Saints are 6-5. It is impossible for the Panthers to catch New Orleans this weekend in this category, and so, there you have it.
Here is the full list of home and away opponents. The full schedule of dates will be released in mid-April a week or so before the 2017 NFL Draft.
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks