The San Francisco 49ers enter Week 1 in a matchup on the road against an NFC West nemesis, the Seattle Seahawks.
Quarterback Brock Purdy returns as he inked his long-term deal with the Niners. So does his favorite target from 2024, tight end George Kittle.
Here are three reasons why the 49ers win their season opener in Seattle.
No. 1: CBS Sports' John Beech got it right last year
The 49ers have mixed reviews about how their season will go. What can't be denied is that they have one of the easiest schedules regarding strength of schedule.
That one of the reasons John Beech, a CBS Sports analyst, tagged the Niners to win Super Bowl LX this season. Furthermore, Beech also predicts Purdy to win the MVP.
Last year, Beech correctly predicted the Los Angeles Rams would win the NFC West.
If his guess is right this year, that would make him 2-0, and beating the Hawks in Week 1 is a great indicator for San Francisco winning the division.
No. 2: 49ers are healthy and equipped to beat Seahawks
As the 49ers look to rebound in 2025, their first obstacle is a revamped Seahawks team that features a new quarterback in Sam Darnold and new top receiver in Cooper Kupp.
The Niners also benefit from having one of the easiest strength of schedules in 2025. They beat the Seahawks on the road last season for their only win in the NFC West during a dismal 6-11 record.
While running back Christian McCaffrey is dealing with a calf issue, the rest of the roster is close to 100 percent, in terms of health, which is a luxury San Francisco hasn't exactly boasted much in recent years.
Pound for pound, the 49ers are the stronger team, and that'll be a difference maker in Week 1.
No. 3: Brock Purdy is the difference maker in Week 1
A Week 6 victory last year at Lumen Field gave the Niners early hopes that 2025 could be promising. It brought San Francisco to 3-3 on the heels of Purdy's 255 passing yards.
In 2023, the 49ers won 31-13 on the road against the Seahawks. Purdy threw for over 200 yards in that game, as well.
During his rookie season, Purdy not only threw for over 200 yards, but he also recorded two touchdown passes in San Francisco's win over Seattle in 2022.
3 reasons why 49ers lose Week 1 vs. Seahawks
One, Darnold beat his 2023 employer in the second game of the season last year, albeit with the Minnesota Vikings, thanks to the quarterback's two-touchdown performance. Despite being on a new team, Darnold will have plenty of motivation to back up last year's performance in his Hawks debut.
Secondly, Kupp is a force to be reckoned with. Though the former Los Angeles Rams receiver was a non-factor in two games against the 49ers last year, he still accounted for 67 receptions, 710 receiving yards, and six touchdowns, and he also should have plenty of motivation going up against a longtime NFC West nemesis in the season opener.
Lastly, San Francisco went 1-5 last year against the NFC West. History has a tendacy to repeat itself, and the burden falls on Purdy and Co. to reverse that trend when the two teams kick off on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 4:05 p.m. ET.