San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers: Predicting First Four Games of 2016

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The San Francisco 49ers open up their 2016 NFL season with a prime-time matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams. How will this contest, and the three thereafter, go for the Niners as they look to start the first quarter of the season on a positive note?

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) runs with the ball after making a catch against the St. Louis Rams in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

2016 probably isn’t going to be a kind year to the San Francisco 49ers.

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The Niners boast the toughest schedule this season, according to John Breech of CBS Sports, and they already play in the vaunted NFC West. It’s a division led by playoff-likely teams like the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks.

San Francisco will have to play them twice. And the 49ers have some other tough contests on the table too.

But let’s keep our focus on the first quarter of the upcoming season. How will the Niners fare between Weeks 1 through 4?

One might argue the landscape of any sports league can’t be truly evaluated until at least 25 percent of a regular-season schedule is in the books.

It’s a good point. While teams can start slow and finish solid — or the other way around (thank you, Atlanta Falcons) — the first four weeks of an NFL season is usually a good indicator what the team will end up doing over the rest of the year.

So let’s predict these first four contests on San Francisco’s schedule and break down why each game will go the way it does.

Nov 27, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage as San Francisco 49ers center Marcus Martin (66) snaps the ball to quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 19-3 in the Thanksgiving Day game.Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

First Quarter of the 2016 for San Francisco

In case you needed a refresher, here’s the official breakdown of the 49ers’ opening four games in 2016:

The Niners, not surprisingly, have two of their six total NFC West divisional contests during this stretch — one at home (Week 1) and one on the road (Week 3).

Los Angeles, without question, is the easiest opponent within the division and likely the only team the Niners may be able to pass over in the standings when the season is over.

But if you’re looking to get mad at the NFL schedule makers, there’s one little snippet to give you more fuel.

San Francisco will play three of the four teams which appeared in conference championships last season. And the Niners get to play the Arizona Cardinals twice.

Talk about a favorable last-place schedule.

January 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Tre Mason (27) runs with the football against San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Rams 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Week 1 versus Los Angeles Rams

Monday, September 12 at 10:20 p.m. ET

The 49ers kick off their 2016 campaign with a prime-time showdown on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.

It’s been a long time since I’ve had any faith in Rams head coach Jeff Fisher. He’s arguably one of the most respected sub-.500 coach out there. And that’s about it.

The move to Los Angeles means the pressure will be on the Rams in short order. And yet No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff will likely be inactive for Week 1. As such, Los Angeles will be starting quarterback Case Keenum under center.

Yet this will be a game decided by defense and the running game. It’s a contest featuring Rams tailback Todd Gurley and 49ers’ No. 1 back Carlos Hyde.

Whoever puts up the better stats — or whichever defense contains the ground game the most — likely comes away with the victory.

Let’s go with Hyde replicating the type of effort he had against the Minnesota Vikings a year ago on MNF. Remember Hyde’s 168-yard, two-touchdown performance back then? You should. And that’s the reason why San Francisco comes away with a victory.

Prediction: Rams 17, 49ers 21

Next: Week 2 at Carolina Panthers

NFL: Divisional Round-San Franciso 49ers at Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Week 2 at Carolina Panthers

Sunday, September 18 at 1 p.m. ET

So the Niners come off a short week (having played on Monday night), travel all the way to the Eastern Time Zone and face off against a team which opened up the 2016 regular season on Thursday night.

Yeah, the 49ers did this in 2015 as well. Only then it was against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now it happens against the Carolina Panthers. Thank you, schedule makers.

Carolina is coming off a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos Thursday night. While the Panthers did blow a 10-point lead, the defeat does nothing to suggest head coach Ron Rivera’s squad is vulnerable to the 49ers coming to town.

Quarterback Cam Newton took some vicious hits from Denver’s defense. But Newton managed to pass concussion tests in the hours after the game.

This, and the added rest between Weeks 1 and 2, doesn’t bode well for a 49ers team traveling on a short week.

Aside from the usual “any given Sunday” cliches we can throw out there, it’s nearly impossible to suggest the Niners come away with a win here. It probably gets ugly.

Prediction: 49ers 10, Panthers 35

Next: Week 3 at Seattle Seahawks

Nov 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) stiff-arms away from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie (63) during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Week 3 at Seattle Seahawks

Sunday, September 25 at 4:05 p.m. ET

This NFC West heated rivalry doesn’t seem as heated anymore, but the 49ers will face no less a formidable opponent when they take on the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

The Seahawks are currently listed as 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl LI, per Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook (h/t ESPN.com). And while Seattle’s offensive line makes for a big question mark, it’s easy to see why this team remains at the elite level.

Seattle had many of the same O-line issues a year ago. And yet quarterback Russell Wilson’s offense still managed to rank No. 4 in the league in both points scored (423) and all-purpose yards (6,058).

And the Seahawks defense ranked first and second, respectively, in each category.

49ers fans can recall the 2015 Niners finished at, or near, the opposite end of the spectrum on both sides of the ball.

While head coach Chip Kelly should help bring a bit more vigor to the offense, and young up-and-coming defenders will help too, the 49ers have little chance to upset their divisional foe from up north.

Oh yeah, San Francisco hasn’t won in Seattle since 2011. The losing streak won’t end this year.

Prediction: 49ers 13, Seahawks 24

Next: Week 4 versus Dallas Cowboys

August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage during the first quarter between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Week 4 versus Dallas Cowboys

Sunday, October 2 at 4:25 p.m. ET

Finally, a game in which the 49ers might actually win.

OK, so a lot of what happens here will be predicated on how Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott performs in regular-season action. While his preseason efforts were commendable, everyone knows those stats mean nothing when the games actually count. It’s not cliche either.

Like Week 1 versus the Rams, San Francisco’s defense will have to clamp down on its opponent’s running game. Only this time it will be standout tailback Ezekiel Elliott.

By this point in the season, the 49ers will have had to contend with three upper-tier rushing offenses. Dallas will mark the fourth time, so perhaps San Francisco’s run defense has learned a thing or two.

It’s hard to trust the Cowboys defense though. Especially minus defensive end Randy Gregory (suspension), who will be out through Week 4.

Dallas ranked 22nd in the league last year against the run (1,931 yards allowed), so let’s expect San Francisco to test the Cowboys on the ground early and often.