Missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020 is not something that the San Francisco 49ers expected. Given the league's easiest strength of schedule in 2025 might not have been either.
But that's what head coach Kyle Shanahan and his team were handed last week when the league released its 17-game slate for all 32 teams. The Niners' opponents had a combined win percentage of .415 last season, making this the easiest schedule since the Atlanta Falcons' in 2015.
San Francisco will only face four opponents that had winning records last season. Two of those, the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks, are in the NFC West along with the 49ers, so there's nothing to complain about there.
That said, there's one particular four-game stretch that could ultimately determine whether or not the Niners' 2025 campaign is a success or failure.
Weeks 12 through 16 could make or break 49ers' playoff hopes
After Week 10 at home against the Rams, San Francisco doesn't face an opponent with a winning record from 2024 until the season finale, a regular-season close-out game at home against the Hawks in Week 18.
Before that, though, the 49ers will have a unique stretch from Weeks 12 through 16.
They have a late-season bye week in Week 14, but the two games before that are against the Cleveland Browns and the Carolina Panthers.
Combined, those two teams went 8-26 last year.
When the Niners return from their off week, they will host the Tennessee Titans, whose last-place finish in the AFC also led to them being awarded the first overall pick in this year's NFL Draft.
Then, the 49ers will travel to the Midwest to play the Indianapolis Colts. The Anthony Richardson-led team finished the 2024 season with a record of 8-9 and missed the playoffs, just like San Francisco did.
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Before its bye, San Francisco will have played eight games on the road and just five games at home. Luckily for the 49ers, they will close out 2025 season at home with a pair of games against the Chicago Bears and the Seahawks.
Facing four non-playoff teams from last year with a bye week in the middle works in the Niners' favor.
However, if they don't make the most of it, San Francisco could quite literally kick itself for failing to capitalize on such an opportunity.
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