49ers 2012 Opponents Determined
Posted by on January 2, 2012 – 11:22 AM
Now that the 2011 regular season is complete, the 49ers know which teams they’ll be facing in 2012.
It’s never too early to look ahead.
In 2012, the 49ers will host the following teams at Candlestick Park: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and the Miami Dolphins.
On the road, the 49ers will visit the following teams: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and the New York Jets.
The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis. After the 2008 season, a decision was made to continue with the same rotation in 2010 and beyond.
Under the formula, every team plays 16 games as follows:
Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games).
The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games).
The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games).
Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings (2 games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year.
Beginning in 2010, a change was made to how teams are paired in the schedule rotation to ensure that teams playing the AFC and NFC West divisions would not be required to make two west coast trips (e.g. at San Francisco and at Seattle), while other teams in their division had none (e.g. at St. Louis and at Arizona). The pairings of teams are listed in the digital version of the 2011 NFL Record and Fact Book (attached).
The official 2012 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring.
NFL Kickoff 2012 Weekend will begin on Thursday night, September 6, and the regular season will conclude on December 30.
Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana will be played on Sunday, February 3.
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By Thomas Rivera on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
When do we verse the jets?
By Jacob Wang on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Isn’t that 3 trips to Lambeau in 4 years?
By Bryan on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Why did they switch 49ers coming to Chicago ? Is this in stone or could this change ?
By Jeremy on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Why in the world do we not have Green Bay and Minnesota at home when we played them on the road 3 years ago? It’s supposed to switch!
By Gary White on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
And i bet u the date is in dec for the GB game…..it always is.
By Jim D on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Still seems unfair and slanted towards east coast teams. The 49ers had to play @PHL and @WAS from the same division. Basically this rule protects the glamor east coast teams.
By Casey on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
@ Jacob Wang, yes, yes it is. Why is the question?
By SanFranAddic on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
“On the road, the 49ers will visit the following teams: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and the New York Jets” That is a brutal road schedule. Is this just random scheduling from a set formula, or does some evil douche-bag from the NFL scheduling office have it in for us?? Geeeshh….
By SanFranAddic on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
…nevermind…. I was so upset I didn’t bother to read the rest before complaining. haha
By Mike on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
This is ridiculous. Just because the Patriots complained about going to the west coast they changed the scheduling. Now we have to play in Green Bay, again. And again in Minnesota. We should be playing at Detroit and Chicago and at home vs Green Bay and Minnesota.
They have to play TWO west coast games so they complain to the league and it gets changed. But what about west coast teams like us complaining about having to play FIVE 10 am games? The NFL just says, “get better teams.”
By Jerry Melrose on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
What is it with the scheduling here?!
Why in the last 4 years…Tampa Bay & the Giants in SF & the 49ers AWAY in Green Bay for 2 consecutive seasons, and now another game @ the Packers with no alternating venue change?
By dan on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
9ers have played in green bay the last 5 times at the very least
By DMT on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
We need to keep going to that dump, until we win there. Besides, don’t you think we’ll be there in 3 weeks time anyway?
By James on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
To be fair there are a lot more east coast teams so it’s kind of inevitable…
By Rick in Round Rock on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
The only thing that Is wrong with this picture is I dont see the COWGIRLS IN OUR SCHEDULE.
Congrats on the final win of the season Im ready for the playoffs baby. Lets get some rest for a few days Nd go back to work baby
GO NINERS
By eufeuhc on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
It’s looks tougher now. No more complaint from haters.
By seven years with Alex again on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
no way….the league is jealous of harbaugh and are putting him to the test just like they did this year …come on thanskgiveing and he has to play his brother …then a monday night game against steelers let alone all the short rests we had ….they are all just jealous and want to put it on him ….go harbaugh next season will be a full offseason and be able to work that magic even further
By BIG BOB(NORCAL) on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
TOUGH ROAD SCHEDULE NEXT SEASON. THANKS TO THE NFL FOR MAKING US GO ON THE ROAD AND COMPETE WITH TOP TIER TEAMS AND PUT THE NINERS BACK WITH THE NFL ELITE. EXACTLY WHERE WE BELONG
By JasonInReno666 on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Very challenging road schedule. I am going to try to be there at Seattle, Green Bay and New York.
By Drew on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Really we shouldn’t be complaining. Sure the rule about west coast trips is ridiculous when we travel East all the time… What really doesn’t make sense is that there are plenty of east coast games that take place in the later time slot. Why aren’t those granted to west coast teams?
But I digress- The reason we have a tough schedule is that we won the division. Thats what happens when you win your division- you play the other top seeds in your conference. If we really have the team it seems we do, the schedule difficulty shouldn’t have much to do with our chances to get to the SB next year.
By Drew on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Besides- this year we played the AFC North- three teams in the playoffs and we are still the #2 seed in the NFC? Next year will be a cake walk.
By jrparker on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
We are going to have to address our offense via the draft with this tough schedule.
By NinerFanFromTonga on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
I say bring us the best and toughest schedule possible. Beginning next season, we will be a better team from this year. It only makes sense if we are a better team to put us up agains the very best. I can’t wait to see what happens next season knowing we have one of the toughest schedules in the League.
Goooooooooo Niners
By kevin pearman on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
who cares who and where we play im lookin foward to it i dont care if we play 7am west coast time ww should go there with an attidude that we aint gonna loose
By mooney75 on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Life is tough when you break 3 NFL records in one year. Then you have to play a very tough schedule the fowling year. I think that the team and the coaches are up to it. They like it tough it is very exciting to them. GO NINERS. Who has it better than us NOOOOOOOOOOOOO Boooooddddddyyyyyyy.
By SportGoofy on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Come on. I’ve been waiting for them to get close to see a game. Buffalo or Detroit. Hard to be a fan living in the north! Love my Niner’s but hate the scheduling. From where I live Minnesota is more north then here and we don’t even have NFL except the Bills for 1 week.Got to see Montana play once around here and he wasn’t ev en a Niner at that point, Same with Hurst and Owens, Craig, Lott and Romanowski!
By SportGoofy on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Been a fan since Montana was a backup. Was a Bills fan and left when Joe Cribbs was traded to the Niner’s. Now I put up with the Bills hype all the time.
By SportGoofy on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Go Niner’s!!!! Go Smith!!!! Go Grant!!!!! Go Willis!!!!
and my favourite…….
Go Gore!!!!!!!!!!!
By irv209 on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
the jim harbaugh era can take on anyone. bring the best east coast teams it dont really matter. our defense is way too strong. forever faithful baby. i been waiting for this
By Tristan on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Saints over Lions
Texans over Bengals
Steelers over Broncos
Falcons over Giants
49ers over Saints
Falcons over Packers
Patriots over Steelers
Ravens over Texans
Ravens over Patriots
49ers over Falcons
49ers over Ravens 20-17
By gary on Jan 2, 2012 | Reply
Calm down all Niner fans, yes, I am a Niner fan, the NFL probably will schedule at least two games in primetime on the road because there are some elite teams on the road. The Packers, the Saints, and the Patriots. So therefore, no 10 a.m. Sunday games. We are awesome in primetime games.
By jerome on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
no ravens bummer man and I was looking forward to that every thanksgiving too.
By Stevie Mac on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
I think East travelling West takes presedence due to the way the timezonage works and is potentially slightly more difficult to adjust to, hence the bias.
…although I did just make that up
In any case, I dont really care that much where we play as long as we keep on improving and building on what we’ve got right now.
There’s nothing like smashing a top tier team on their home turf.
By alex_fn_smith on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
wow…this is all happening too soon…theyre acting like we won the superbowl already
By alex_fn_smith on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
how come everytime the patriots won the superbowl,the next year their schedule was always mysteriously easy
By alex_fn_smith on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
i dont know why our schedule is so hard,to be honest….one of the reasons we have such a good record was because our schedule was kinda easy this year
By alex_fn_smith on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
we better trade up and grab a great receiver,oh and a right guard would be awesome!!!
By matt on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
Considering the schedule. Thank heaven we have a quarterback that doesn’t turn the ball over and has proven himself in 5 comeback victories this year, 4 of them on the road. I’m glad they’re going to lock Alex in for a 3 yearcontract. We will need that kind of smart play to overcome this nast slate of opponents.
By ninerfan15 on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
Wow, that is a pretty brutal road schedule. The Niners have done very well on the road this year, they will need every bit of that success next year to get through those away games!
By 9erfan on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
I like the schedule. The Jets are crumbling, the Vikings are rebuilding, We beat the Saints, right? And We are probably going to gain the expierence at Lambeau in the Playoffs. Our Home games don’t look horrible either so bring on all comers. Who has it better than we do!!! Nobody.
By rjdniner on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
I was hoping they wre going to play at Atlanta or Jax its a long drive to
south fla niners
By James on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
In cold weather is the only way Green Bay can beat us.
By Brian on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
So we are going on the road to face the Packers, Saints and the Patriots?! Where they were 23-1 this season? Where over the last 3 seasons they are a collective 63-9?! Yeah that sounds real fair. Only upside to that is they all 3 will be either Sunday night or Monday night football games.
By 49er4life on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
I think we can beat anyone on any givin Sunday so bring it on. We will prove to all those haters out there that were back and are gonna be at the top for a while now. WHO’S GOT IT BETTER THEN US???? NOBODY!!!
By sdkota9er on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
i cant wait to go to the niners vs minn……and watch the niners put a beating on them!!!! it’s good to have a close game!!
By sdkota9er on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
9erfan…i agree, if we want to be the best, well we need to beat the best and play them on a regular schedule! i really think for the next five years the NFC west is going to regain some strength….good times!!
By Johnny Soprano on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
If they stay at least as strong and consistent as this year, I see another 13-3 or 12-4 season. A year ago, wouldn’t you have given up thy left nt for a season like that.
I for one am eating my words about how the season was going to pan out after the coach name Smith as the starting QB.
Still would have been nice if they could have picked up Larry Fitzgerald to destroy any double teaming.
By Johnny Soprano on Jan 3, 2012 | Reply
has it really been 12 years since SF has beaten GB? unfair advantage! somebody yell UNCLE !!
By 49ersFanInTX on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
As a fan here in Texas, all I heard was a bunch of Cryboy fans tell me that the only reason the 49ers made it to the playoffs was due to an easy schedule and the NFC West crap teams. In a way, I really couldn’t argue but I think we proved we can hang in there with the tough teams such as the Giants, Lions and Pittsburgh. Having a harder schedule is almost a warm welcome if we do this good in 2012! And it would be icing on the cake if we make it back to the playoffs! Who go it better than us?!
By Hinrid on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
With the 9ers great record this year, look for at least 2 of those east coast games to be either SNF or MNF.
By Nob Hill Faithful on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
Why did my season ticket package and all other projected schedules say that the Packers and Vikings are coming the the stick? I would love to play them both at their place but I would looooooooooooove to play them at the stick! I could care less about the bears… at least we have an easy home schedule which means lots of happy days leaving the stick. Detriot at the stick is a Monday night game for sure though! “The Handshake Part II” haha
By Amir on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
i think they made a mistake on the games. we have the packers and vikings at home this year. they had us at home 3 years ago and we were at the packers home last year too. i think it is a mistake.
By Robert on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
Bring em on I know we can handle these teams and the better team you beat the better team you are…Go Alex and the boys…..coach is just going to make this team back to where it use to be….man have we all waited…it’s going to be worth the wait for us all
By john on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
It doesn’t matter where we play. It’s still 100yards long and we are the 49ers.
By Keith Wood on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
This STINKS!!! We played the Giants this year in Candlestick and we are doing it again next year, going to Green Bay again, this is a brutal schedule. I live up in Ontario now and I was hoping the 49ers would play IN Detroit or IN Buffalo, but both games are in San Fran, so I won’t be able to see them live next year and that STINKS for me, a 31 year and counting 49er fan. Oh, Well, thank God for the NFL Ticket, still remember the years when I was lucky enough to even see 4 games for the whole year because I was living in Oklahoma at the time LOL.
By mason on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
BRING IT ON THE 49ERS ARE ONE OF THE BEST TRAVELING TEAMS IN THE NFL WE WILL GO ANYWHERE AND WIN ANOTHER 10+ WIN SEASON HERE WE COME BABY.
By cliq-claq on Jan 4, 2012 | Reply
@gary…you said we’re awesome in primetime….did u see that egg we laid in baltimore ON PRIMETIME…
and correct me if im wrong,but didnt we play 5 games in the eastern time zone this year…eagles,redskins,bengals,ravens,and lions….and much was made of it on all the sports talk shows.Now they want us to do it all over again
COME ON GODell!!!!
By bigearl on Jan 5, 2012 | Reply
Who does it better then us…NO BODYYYY…..there is always room for everything most of all this week is IMPROVEMENT WEEK…Coaches or Mr York Jr you need to FEED the D line and the O line this is the ticket to the BIG GAME…and need not worry about this years schedule people relax PLAY OFFs FIRST….GO 9ERSS……
By Jerry Jones, Owner, Dallas Cowboys on Jan 5, 2012 | Reply
Contract Green Bay and move their fake team to los angeles
By kalininer on Mar 16, 2012 | Reply
go niners