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The NFL schedule is out.The San Francisco 49ers released their 2026 schedule that will see them travel 38,105 miles throughout the season beginning with their season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 10.The Niners finished the 2025 season with a 12-5 record and ended their season with a NFC Divisional Round loss to the eventual-Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks.Many sports experts predict a lot of the same for San Francisco in 2026. As far as Super Bowl title odds, the 49ers were tied for 7th-best odds to win the championship at +1800.This season should look different than the previous one, though. San Francisco added weapons, filling voids at various positions. They improved at wideout adding Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and drafting Mississippi receiver De'Zhaun Stribling. The Niners brought back Dre Greenlaw, are expecting to get Nick Bosa and Fred Warner back from injury and added linebackers and defensive linemen through the draft in Romello Height and Jaden Dugger.With a new-look, upgraded 49ers squad, here are season predictions from sports experts detailing how the San Francisco 49ers will perform during the 2026 NFL season:San Francisco 49ers 2026 record predictionUSA TODAY Sports: 12-5Jacob Camenker wrote: "The 49ers seem poised to contend for the NFC West title again. Their path to winning this season will be much easier than the one the Seahawks and Rams face, as San Francisco has a lot of favorable matchups on its schedule.Notably, the 49ers get two dates with the Cardinals, home games against the Dolphins and Raiders and road games against the Falcons and Giants. All look winnable, though the lattermost game on the much maligned MetLife Stadium turf could be cause for concern among 49ers fans.Nonetheless, those easier matchups will provide San Francisco several reprieves against the remainder of the NFC West and their strongest NFC East and AFC West opponents.The schedule isn't the only reason for optimism in San Francisco. The team is also getting Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams back from season-ending injuries, which should boost a pass rush that struggled immensely last season. The addition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans should also provide a spark to the 49ers' already strong offense and make them legitimate Super Bowl 61 contenders."Niners Wire: 10-7Kyle Madson has the 49ers just sneaking in the postseason, coming down to their final Week 18 game against the Arizona Cardinals.Madson wrote: "This might be a "win-and-in" playoff scenario for the 49ers, and it's hard to see this group losing in that situation."Sports Illustrated: 10-7Grant Cohn wrote: "The 49ers should be able to sneak into the playoffs with 10 wins, although the Seahawks won 10 games and missed the playoffs in 2024. If the 49ers miss the playoffs, they'll have no choice but to make at least one serious change to organization."NBC Sports Bay Area: 11-6Matt Maiocco wrote: "After the 49ers’ season opener in Melbourne, Australia, against the Los Angeles Rams, things could really heat up. After that key NFC West matchup in Week 1, the 49ers will come back to Santa Clara for three consecutive home games.Each of those games is scheduled for the heat of the day, which could lead to some uncomfortable conditions for those seated on the sunny side of Levi’s Stadium. And those three straight home games early in the season mean the 49ers will finish with a road-heavy stretch to cap the regular season.After tabulating the returns, it looks like an 11-6 season and a return trip to the playoffs for Kyle Shanahan and Co."FOX Sports: 10-7Eric D. Williams wrote: "The San Francisco 49ers improved on offense with the additions of veteran receivers Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, and the return of linebacker Dre Greenlaw in free agency should help bring intensity and juice back to the defense."ESPN: ESPN analyst Mike Clay's projected win total: 9.5Nick Wagoner wrote: "While San Francisco's schedule doesn't appear overly daunting, the Niners' toughest challenge this season could be the toll of the many airline miles they will rack up. Depending on whether the Niners add more extended stays away from the Bay Area, they'll log more than 38,000 miles this season and cross 58 time zones, both of which are believed to be league records. For a team that often deals with significant injuries, the added wear and tear of so much travel could be every bit as difficult as the opponents on the schedule."
