The NFL has released their 2015 schedule, and the San Francisco 49ers will have some interesting match-ups against the AFC West, AFC North, and NFC North.
After finishing as the runner-up in Super Bowl XLVII (2012-13) and then falling in the NFC Championship game in 2013-14, the San Francisco 49ers still considered themselves among the class of the NFC heading into the 2014-15 season. With most of the same core returning, the 49ers were primed to stay at the highest reaches of the conference.
Reality came crashing down really quickly.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick regressed badly and the rest of the 49ers offense suffered behind him. The team struggled to an 8-8 record and tough times on the field led to turmoil in the locker room. Rumors floated throughout the season about the future of head coach Jim Harbaugh, rumors that ultimately became true when Harbaugh and the 49ers “mutually agreed to part ways” and Harbaugh took the head coach job at the University of Michigan.
That turmoil continued into the offseason. Gone are stalwarts Frank Gore, Chris Culliver, Mike Iupati, Michael Crabtree, and Patrick Willis, among others. In their place, the Niners picked up Reggie Bush, Torrie Smith, Blaine Gabbert, Darnell Dockett, and a wagon filled with veterans. In short, the 49ers are looking for a new infusion of attitude and professionalism to a roster that just imploded on itself.
Then again, the game isn’t played solely on the back of the roster you assemble, but also the schedule you have to endure. Each year, NFL teams play each team within their division twice and they play one AFC and one NFC division on a rotational basis. To fill in the final two spots on the schedule, the teams need to take on opponents who finished in the same position in their respective divisions.
For the San Francisco 49ers, it looks like it will be an interesting schedule to say the least. After playing an NFC West division that roughed up the 49ers to the tune of a 2-4 record in 2014, San Francisco will see the NFC North and the AFC North on their schedules. To balance out the schedule, the 49ers also throw in match-ups with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants.
So what does the San Francisco 49ers schedule look like for the 2015 season?
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