49ers announce 2022 schedule

The 49ers opponents for the 2022 season have been known since early January. On May 4, the NFL announced its international slate of games. Included was San Francisco traveling to Mexico City to take on the Arizona Cardinals on November 21 at Estadio Azteca. The Monday night contest will be the second time San Francisco and Arizona have met in Mexico’s capital city.

On Thursday, the NFL announced the dates and times for the remaining 16 contests.

The 17-game schedule features nine dates at Levi’s Stadium, seven road contests, and one neutral site game.

With the NFC West matched up against the AFC West and NFC South for 2022, San Francisco won’t be racking up the frequent flyer miles like in past years. This season, the 49ers play only two games in the Eastern Time Zone against Atlanta and Carolina.

In another scheduling quirk, the previously mentioned trip to Mexico City and a game in Denver will give the 49ers two games at high altitude in 2022. The Bronco’s stadium is nicknamed “Mile High” due to Denver’s altitude of a mile, 5,280 feet, above sea level. Estadio Azteca, sitting at 7,200 feet above sea level, provides an even more significant challenge.

San Francisco will open the season on the road in Chicago on September 11. The 49ers will open their home schedule the following week against their NFC West Division rival Seattle Seahawks.

The maximum number of prime-time games a team can have in a given season is five, and the 49ers popularity shows through with San Francisco reaching the limit. They will have two contests on Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football, along with a Thursday night contest in Seattle.

San Francisco will have its bye in week 9, effectively splitting their season in half. After having only three home games over the first eight weeks, the 49ers will be in the friendly confines of Levi’s Stadium for six of their final nine games.

Based on the 2021 records of their opponents, the 49ers have the fifth toughest schedule in the NFL.

 49ers 2022 schedule

Week 1 – September 11: @ Chicago Bears, 10 am

Week 2 – September 18: Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 pm

Week 3 – September 25: @ Denver Broncos, 5:20 pm (Sunday Night Football)

Week 4 – October 3: Los Angeles Rams, 5:15 pm (Monday Night Football)

Week 5 – October 9: @ Carolina Panthers, 1:05 pm

Week 6 – October 16: @ Atlanta Falcons, 10 am

Week 7 – October 23: Kansas City Chiefs, 1:25 pm

Week 8 – October 30: @ Los Angeles Rams, 1:25pm

Week 9 – Bye

Week 10 – November 13: Los Angeles Chargers, 5:20 pm (Sunday Night Football)

Week 11 – November 21: @ Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City, 5:15 pm (Monday Night Football)

Week 12 – November 27: New Orleans Saints, 1:25 pm

Week 13 – December 4: Miami Dolphins, 1:05 pm

Week 14 – December 11: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:25 pm

Week 15 – December 15: @ Seattle Seahawks, 5:15 pm (Thursday Night Football)

Week 16 – December 24: Washington Commanders, 1:05 pm

Week 17 – January 1: @ Las Vegas Raiders, 1:05 pm

Week 18 – January 7/8: Arizona Cardinals, TBA