San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers: Revisiting the Franchise's NFL-Leading Week 1 Winning Streak

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

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The San Francisco 49ers have a good recent history in Week 1. The Niners haven’t lost a season opener since 2010 and are tied for the NFL lead for Week 1 opening victories entering the 2016 season.

September 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers players run onto the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Believe it or not, the San Francisco 49ers may actually set themselves apart from the rest of the NFL this Monday.

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And for the good reasons. Not the bad.

San Francisco hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football to kick off their 2016 season, and the Niners have good Week 1 history they can carry into the game.

In fact, the 49ers haven’t lost a regular-season opener since 2010 — the days of former head coach Mike Singletary.

Four of these five Week 1 wins came during the reign of former head coach Jim Harbaugh. And, with the exception of 2014, it’s easy to see why the Niners were able to dominate the first game of each schedule.

Last year, one-and-done head coach Jim Tomsula led San Francisco to victory on Monday night — a rare victory in what was otherwise a disappointing 2015 campaign.

Currently, the 49ers are tied with the Denver Broncos and New York Jets for the longest Week 1 winning streak, per Pro Football Reference.

The @Broncos have won 5 straight Week 1 games, tied with the @nyjets and @49ers for the longest active streak pic.twitter.com/ajHE6k6F5P

— ProFootballReference (@pfref) September 9, 2016

Denver already won its Week 1 bout. And if the Niners win and Jets lose, San Francisco will have one category in which it stands alone.

So let’s take a look back at the 49ers history in Week 1 over the last five years and revisit some fun times for the red and gold.

NFL: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks with quarterback Alex Smith (11). Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

2011 — Versus the Seattle Seahawks

49ers 33, Seahawks 17

2011 turned out to be the final year in which the 49ers had dominance over their hated NFC West rivals, the Seattle Seahawks.

San Francisco won both of its contests against that team from up north, and it all started with a 33-17 victory at Candlestick Park.

Fans will remember this as the first game in the Jim Harbaugh era.

Harbaugh took over as head coach during the offseason and would eventually lead the Niners to three consecutive NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl berth.

But the game itself featured some familiar 49ers names — quarterback Alex Smith, running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Smith managed a one-yard touchdown run, but it was the Niners defense and special teams that made the victory possible. Then-49ers kicker David Akers connected on four field-goal attempts, and even kick returner Ted Ginn managed a 102-yard touchdown return.

Most notably, the 49ers held Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch in check. The now-retired Seattle standout managed just 33 yards on the ground.

In total, San Francisco gave up just 219 all-purpose yards and sacked Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson five times.

The 49ers defense would continue to lead San Francisco deep into the playoffs.

NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Alex Smith (11) calls an audible on offense. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

2012 — at the Green Bay Packers

49ers 30, Packers 22

Through the 1990s and into the 2000s, the Green Bay Packers owned the 49ers in almost every meaningful contest, with the exception of “The Catch II.”

All that stopped in 2012 though. And even with quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the Niners turned the table on Green Bay in what became an impressive, albeit brief, domination of the green and gold.

Keep in mind, the days of quarterback Colin Kaepernick running over the Packers hadn’t quite happened yet. The playoffs were a ways down the road when the Niners knocked off the Packers 30-22 at Lambeau in Week 1.

Quarterbacks Rodgers and Alex Smith each exchanged two touchdown passes, and Rodgers even managed to throw for 303 yards against a stalwart San Francisco defense.

But Rodgers’ one interception, picked off by linebacker NaVorro Bowman, and three sacks taken proved to be the difference.

San Francisco never trailed in the game. And running back Frank Gore continued his storied red-and-gold legacy with a 112-yard, one-touchdown effort.

The 49ers were well on their way to a Super Bowl berth with this victory over one of the NFL’s best.

NFL: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) runs for a touchdown. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

2013 — versus the Green Bay Packers

49ers 34, Packers 28

Wouldn’t you know it? The 49ers opened back-to-back seasons against the Packers. And it was more of the same results.

Albeit with some different contributors.

By 2013, quarterback Colin Kaepernick had taken over the primary signal-caller duties. Former QB Alex Smith had been sent off to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Niners looked to be en route to another deep playoff push after a tough loss in Super Bowl XLVII.

Kaepernick torched Green Bay in the playoffs the year before. And he did so again in Week 1, although it was with his arm and not his legs.

Kap finished the contest with 412 passing yards and three touchdowns. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had a commendable 333-yard, three-touchdown performance as well. But this contest was Kaepernick’s to brag about.

Even if Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews took a late shot at Kap, which drew ire from left tackle Joe Staley.

NFL: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Oh, and we can’t forget about wide receiver Anquan Boldin, whom the Niners acquired via a trade earlier that offseason.

Boldin’s 208-yard performance was another note of accolade — one which 49ers fans could only hope for in 2016.

Sep 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

2014 — at the Dallas Cowboys

49ers 28, Cowboys 17

The 49ers window was coming to a close in 2014, although no one knew it at the time.

And San Francisco’s Week 1 stomping of the Dallas Cowboys certainly indicated head coach Jim Harbaugh’s squad was poised for yet another deep playoff run.

The Niners never trailed in the game and carried a 28-3 lead into halftime. San Francisco’s scoring got off to a great start, thanks to a 35-yard fumble returned for a touchdown by cornerback Chris Culliver.

But this Week 1 performance was highlighted by Vernon Davis, whose two touchdown receptions seemed to reaffirm his presence among NFL elite tight ends at the time.

Unfortunately, those two TD grabs turned out to be all Davis would have that season. And his 245 total yards in 2014 marked the lowest in his 10-year career.

Dallas crawled back in the second half and managed to score 14 unanswered points. In many ways, this was an indication of the times to come.

Trouble was brewing within the 49ers organization, and the team would finish with an 8-8 record. Harbaugh and the Niners “mutually” parted ways the following offseason, and the disastrous 2015 campaign was just beyond.

Sep 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) celebrates with fans after scoring on a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2015 — versus the Minnesota Vikings

49ers 20, Vikings 3

Who knew what to expect out of the 49ers entering 2015. Jim Tomsula, who had never been a coordinator at the NFL level, was now head coach. And the team was reeling from a slew of offseason retirements and free-agent departures.

Nobody told the Niners though. At least not in Week 1.

Last year’s Monday Night Football performance was thought to be running back Carlos Hyde’s coming-out party.

After all, he only rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

And who could forget this:

Hit'em with the B button Carlos Hyde. #MNF #49ers https://t.co/IEFP72fZ17

— XFINITY Sports (@XFINITYSports) September 15, 2015

Week 1 last year seemed to indicate the 49ers might not be that bad after all. San Francisco’s defense even managed to hold star running back Adrian Peterson to just 31 yards. And this same unit sacked Pro Bowl-to-be quarterback Teddy Bridgewater five — yes, five — times.

Of course, we all know what happened thereafter.

This contest turned out to be the only decisive victory in San Francisco’s five-win 2015 campaign.

Hyde dealt with a nagging foot injury for the first half of the season before being sidelined for the second half.