The 49ers play a Thursday Night Football game on the road early in 2025, but it won't involve any serious long-distance travel.
The San Francisco 49ers' full regular-season schedule for 2025 hasn't gone live yet, but a number of leaks and reported games are already out, including the Niners opening up the year on the road against one NFC West rival, the Seattle Seahawks.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. won't have to wait long before squaring off against another division foe, the Los Angeles Rams, who'll reportedly host the Niners in a primetime Thursday Night Football tilt in Week 5 at SoFI Stadium.
Still unconfirmed, @OzzyNFL on Twitter/X has been accurate with schedule leaks to this point:
The Official Los Angeles Rams 2025 Schedule
W1: Texans at Rams (4:25)
W2: Rams at Titans
W3: Rams at Eagles
W4: Colts at Rams (4:05)
W5: Niners at Rams (TNF)
W6: Rams at Ravens
W7: Rams at Jaguars (London)
W8: Saints at Rams (4:05)
W9: BYE
W10: Rams at Niners (4:25)
W11: Seahawks…
— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 14, 2025
L.A. gets a break ahead of the short week, too, staying home after reportedly hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4.
However, San Francisco apparently plays a home game that same week, too, hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars. So, if the 49ers have to be the "road" team on such a short week, it's best to keep Thursday night in-state.
And the term "road team" may not exactly apply here either.
49ers can act like the 'home team' for Thursday Night Football vs. Rams
Let's be honest: SoFI Stadium doesn't exactly provide the Rams with a homefield advantage when the Niners come to town. Just ask quarterback Matthew Stafford's wife, Kelly, about the times her husband and Co. have welcomed San Francisco to Southern California.
The sea of red within the venue for such games gives San Francisco a distinct advantage, and it's one that'll be on full display during prime time now.
In addition to the 49ers not having to travel very far (just a short one-hour flight from the Bay Area), it's perhaps best to get at least one of the two Thursday Night Football games out of the way relatively early.
And, despite it being an NFC West rivalry bout, the fact the Niners won't be coming off a road trip the previous week and can take advantage of the SoCal Faithful in attendance bodes well.
A year ago, L.A. defeated San Francisco in both divisional bouts, but Week 5 should afford Shanahan's team to proverbially right the ship.
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