49ers' Win-Loss Predictions for 2022 NFL Season

The San Francisco 49ers have a lot of reasons to be optimistic as they enter the 2022 NFL season.

The biggest question mark going into the campaign could wind up being a huge asset. They will officially begin the Trey Lance era, as the team's first-round pick in 2021 is finally set to take over the offense from Jimmy Garoppolo.

Lance enters a situation that is ideal for any young quarterback. He has an established head coach with a track record of putting together great offenses, and he has an arsenal of weapons that includes Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk.

The defense is full of familiar names as well. Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Fred Warner lead a scary front seven and create high expectations on defense.

So what exactly can we expect from the Niners in 2022? Here, we'll take a look at that question, the complete schedule and a prediction for the team's final record.

49ers' 2022 Schedule

Nick Bosa (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Nick Bosa warms up during NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Week 1: at Chicago Bears, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m., Fox

Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Sept. 18 at 4:05 p.m., Fox

Week 3: at Denver Broncos, Sept. 25 at 8:20 p.m., NBC

Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Oct. 3 at 8:15 p.m., ESPN

Week 5: at Carolina Panthers, Oct. 9 at 4:05 p.m., CBS

Week 6: at Atlanta Falcons, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m., Fox

Week 7: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Oct. 23 at 4:25 p.m., Fox

Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams, Oct. 30 at 4:25 p.m., Fox

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Nov. 13 at 8:20 p.m., NBC

Week 11: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m., ESPN

Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints, Nov. 27 at 4:25 p.m., Fox

Week 13: vs. Miami Dolphins, Dec. 4 at 4:05 p.m., Fox

Week 14: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec. 11 at 4:25 p.m., Fox

Week 15: at Seattle Seahawks, Dec. 15 at 8:15 p.m., Amazon Prime Video

Week 16: vs. Washington Commanders, Dec. 24 at 4:05 p.m., CBS

Week 17: at Las Vegas Raiders, Jan. 1 at 4:05 p.m., Fox

Week 18: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Jan. 8 at TBD, TBD

All times ET.

Analysis and Expectations

Deebo Samuel (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel takes part in drills at the NFL football team's practice facility in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

There were two major developments that drove the 49ers offseason narratives this year.

The first was whether the team would turn the keys over to Trey Lance. Jimmy Garoppolo was once again an efficient passer who didn't lose the Niners too many games as they made it to the NFC Championship Game.

As it turns out, that wasn't enough for the club to think twice about turning to the second-year passer. They gave Jimmy G permission to seek a trade, and he is unlikely to be on the roster when it is cut down to 53 players on August 30.

The other story was a contract feud with Deebo Samuel that ended when the club signed him to a three-year contract extension.

After all of their moves, the team came in at No. 14 in Bleacher Report's post-NFL draft power rankings. At the time, the Samuel situation was still in the air so it's safe to assume that would have bumped them up a few spots after finishing at No. 10 last year.

Oddsmakers don't seem to believe any kind of drop-off is coming, either. The Niners are just behind the Rams as favorites to win the NFC West at +150 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. They also put the San Francisco over/under win total at 10.

Predictions

Trey Lance (David Berding/Getty Images)

EAGAN, MN - AUGUST 18: Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during a joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings at training camp at TCO Performance Center on August 18, 2022 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

So much of how well the 49ers do this season depends on Trey Lance's development. In camp, David Lombardi of The Athletic tracked his completion percentage as hovering around 50 percent for many of the practices.

Then, the 22-year-old went out in limited preseason action and appeared to be in complete control of the offense while going 4-of-5 for 92 yards and a touchdown.

That's likely to be a perfect microcosm for what Lance's season is going to look like. Some weeks, he may look like a future MVP; in others, he's going to make fans wonder what San Francisco saw in him.

Fortunately, the baseline talent on both sides of the ball is good enough to win some of those ugly games and look like a Super Bowl contender in the good ones.

The 49ers' schedule starts favorably with games against the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks, both of which are clearly in rebuilding mode. Perhaps Lance can utilize those contests to get into a rhythm and off to a fast start.

The stretch of games that will define the season comes from Weeks 7 to 14, when San Francisco faces seven consecutive opponents with winning records in 2021.

Fortunately, that still gives the team time to rally if things don't go its way. If Lance comes out of that stretch a better quarterback who can catch fire at the end of the season, the Niners will again be scary in the playoffs.

Prediction: 10-7

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