NFL Schedule Preview: San Francisco 49ers

July 27, 2012; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh talks with quarterback Alex Smith (11) and running back Frank Gore (21) during training camp at the 49ers practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-US PRESSWIRE

It’s 32 days until the new NFL season begins but for a football mad guy like me that’s just too long so I’ve taken it upon myself to go over each NFL schedule and try and predict for all of you what may happen once the season rolls around.

It’s a Saturday NFC West double header as we move on to the San Francisco 49ers who went 13-3 in 2011. Here’s how I think their season will go:

• Week 1 at Green Bay Packers – Win
• Week 2 vs Detroit Lions – Win
• Week 3 at Minnesota Vikings – Win
• Week 4 at New York Jets – Win
• Week 5 vs Buffalo Bills – Win
• Week 6 vs New York Giants – Win
• Week 7 vs Seattle Seahawks – Win
• Week 8 at Arizona Cardinals – Win
• Week 9 BYE
• Week 10 vs St Louis Rams – Win
• Week 11 vs Chicago Bears – Loss
• Week 12 at New Orleans Saints – Loss
• Week 13 at St Louis Rams – Win
• Week 14 vs Miami Dolphins – Win
• Week 15 at New England Patriots – Loss
• Week 16 at Seattle Seahawks – Win
• Week 17 vs Arizona Cardinals – Win

Overall Record for the San Francisco 49ers in 2012: 13-3

The 49ers are in prime position to begin a long run of playoff appearances and in 2012 they get a schedule that lends itself toward that end as this season’s schedule ranks as one of the easiest in the competition. There’s only five truly difficult games on the schedule overall – against the Packers, Lions, Bears, Saints and Patriots – and a large number of much easier matchups thanks in part to the still weak NFC West.

There’s not an awful lot to say here really – an easy schedule for a good team usually means a playoff run is in the picture. The one possible fly in the ointment – the initial two games. If the 49ers lose to both the Packers and Lions then this season could wind up looking very different as a pair of early losses like that could very easily derail 2011′s good work and send the team into a tailspin. I don’t think it could happen – but it is something to be mindful of.

Stay tuned – the second of our double header NFC West outlook will be along this evening checking out the St Louis Rams.