The [2025 NFL schedule is out](https://ninernoise.com/nfl-schedule-makers-gave-49ers-rival-totally-unfair-advantage), and the San Francisco 49ers now know who they are slated to play and when as they aim to get back to the playoffs following a disappointing 6-11 campaign in 2024.
As the last-place finisher of last year's NFC West, the 49ers are set to play a last-place schedule when it comes to the three matchups that are _not_ a part of the divisional scheduling rotations.
They have a perfect opportunity to get back to the playoffs in 2025, specifically because of the fact that two of those three games are set to take place in a laughable seven-week stretch to close out the regular season.
From Week 12 through Week 18, nobody has a lighter schedule than San Francisco.
49ers must capitalize on easy schedule to wrap up 2025
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This seven-week stretch is scheduled to kick off with a home game against the Carolina Panthers before the 49ers travel east to take on the Cleveland Browns. San Francisco then has a Week 14 bye week before the Tennessee Titans are scheduled to travel to Santa Clara in Week 15.
The 49ers are then scheduled to close out the year with a trip to Indianapolis to take on the Colts, followed by home games against the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks to wrap up the regular season.
None of those six teams were playoff teams a year ago, and their combined winning percentage was an abysmal .333. Only the Seahawks had a winning record, and they traded starting quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders over the offseason.
The games against the Browns and the Bears, two teams that combined to go 8-26 last year, were given to the 49ers since they also finished in last place in their respective divisions. The 49ers do not have any other teams from the AFC North or the NFC North on their regular season schedule.
The 49ers also have a Week 9 road matchup against the New York Giants, who finished in last place in the NFC East with a 3-14 record a year ago. So perhaps their disappointing 2024 campaign will be a blessing in disguise.
After the 49ers finished in last place in the NFC West in 2020, they took advantage of a lighter schedule in 2021, got to the playoffs, and made a run to the NFC Championship Game. And let's also not forget that 6-11 was their worst record since 2018. In 2019, they bounced back and made a Super Bowl appearance.
As long as the 49ers enter Week 12 with a respectable record, they have a chance to go on a run to build momentum ahead of a potential return to the playoffs. In 2022, they did exactly that, winning 10 straight games to conclude the regular season before going on to reach the NFC Championship Game for the second year in a row and third time in four years.