San Francisco 49ers 2011 Schedule: The Road Back to Respectability
The 49ers got their first look at the 2011 schedule Tuesday and suddenly a prolonged lockout doesn't seem so bad.
Starting the season say Week 6 in Detroit or maybe Week 8 against the Browns might be just what the doctor ordered for a franchise with a chronic case of under-achievement and an entirely new offense to install.
Assuming the owners and players do get their act together in time for Week 1, the biggest challenge for Jim Harbaugh and Co. will be keeping the team afloat long enough to make waves during a season-ending run versus division opponents.
Fortunately the NFC West is once again the kiddie pool of NFL talent and last year Seattle lowered the water line even further by winning the division a game under .500.
The goal for the 2011 49ers isn’t so much a return to greatness as move to mediocrity. Eight wins should be enough to at least challenge for the division, here’s a month-by-month look at how they will get there.
September
1 of 5
Sept. 11 - Seahawks @ 49ers (W)
You hate to call the first game a must win, but if the 49ers can’t steal the opener at home vs. Seattle, it could be another month before they get in the win column. If Harbaugh has to suit up at QB so at least someone knows the plays so be it, San Francisco needs a victory Week 1 and they get one.
Sept. 18 – Cowboys @ 49ers (L)
Tony Romo is reportedly organizing workouts to make sure all the Cowboys are on the same page. The 49ers’ might not be done reading their playbooks by the time Week 2 rolls around. A bad combination that will lead to an easy Dallas victory.
Sept. 25 - 49ers @ Bengals (L)
I’d like to say the 49ers can scratch out a road win here vs. the lowly Bengals but lack of familiarity with the offense rears its head in Harbaugh’s first road game. Plus, the 49ers history in 10 a.m. start is brutal. Take the over if you can find a bet on the number of false starts for S.F. in this one.
October
2 of 5
Oct. 2 - 49ers @ Eagles (L)
Good game for 49ers’ fans to get out and enjoy a nice early fall day with the family. This one will be over before it begins
Oct. 9 – Buccaneers @ 49ers (L)
This match-up didn’t got so well for San Francisco last year, the improving Bucs handed the fading 49ers their first home shutout since 1977 (21-0). Harbaugh and Co. score a measure of revenge by keeping it close but it’s not enough to upend Josh Freeman and the playoff bound Bucs.
Oct. 16 – 49ers @ Lions (W)
This falls back into the must win column for the 49ers, who desperately need to snap a four game skid. Fortunately Matthew Stafford goes out with a shoulder injury and in steps Alex Smith (Detroit signed him in the offseason to keep their streak alive of picking-up discarded 49ers’ quarterbacks). Smith turns in a vintage performance, running in a circle on a crucial fourth down then throwing the ball at the feet of Calvin Johnson. 49ers get a much needed win going into the bye.
Oct. 30 – Browns @ 49ers (W)
The bye is massive for the 49ers, who finally install their first audible. San Francisco shows off their new found offensive skills by thrashing a skidding Cleveland team. Fantasy owners everywhere regret taking Peyton Hillis in the first round after he is pulled down from behind by Patrick Willis and sprains an ankle.
November
3 of 5
Nov. 6 – 49ers @ Redskins (W)
The type of momentum killing game the 49ers’ were a lock to lose under Singletary, but this time San Francisco shocks everyone by upsetting the ‘Skins on the road and getting back to .500. Harbaugh is getting buzz as a Coach Of The Year candidate and 49ers’ fans have a reason to care in November for the first time in a decade.
Nov. 13 – Giants @ 49ers (L)
49ers’ crash back to earth so hard it registers on the Richter Scale. Tim Kawakami writes a 10,000 word blog post about how Jed York should sell the team.
Nov. 20 – Cardinals @ 49ers (W)
Facing another must-win San Francisco ekes out a slop fest that NFL Films actually destroys all record of immediately after it’s played. Minus the style points it is one of the biggest wins in recent memory because it keeps playoff hopes alive with a short week looming.
Nov. 24 (Thurs) – 49ers @ Ravens (L)
Thursday Night games are always ugly. This one is real ugly for the 49ers.
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December
4 of 5
December 4 – Rams @ 49ers (W)
49ers enter a crucial home stretch against division opponents by routing the Rams at home. They are now in a three way tie with Seattle and St. Louis atop the division and 49ers fans everywhere are legitimately juiced.
Dec. 11 – 49ers @ Cardinals (W)
The Cardinals are in full Andrew Luck tank mode and don’t offer much resistance.
Dec. 19 (Monday) – Steelers @ 49ers (L)
The 49ers are surprisingly competitive thanks to a raucous Monday night crowd at Candlestick but Pittsburg is playing for home-field advantage and they prove too physical for San Francisco to handle.
Dec. 24 – 49ers @ Seahawks (L)
The Seahawks snap a three game skid by beating San Francisco on a sloppy Qwest Field but it’s a tepid celebration since Seattle was eliminated earlier that day when the Rams beat the resting Steelers. It sets the stage for…
January
5 of 5
Jan. 1 – 49ers @ Rams (W)
An NFC West title and a berth in the playoffs on the line in St. Louis on New Year's Day. For the second year in a row the Rams come up short in the final game, as the 49ers' offense is finally firing on all cylinders and Andy Dalton appears to be the long-term answer at QB. San Francisco is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and a mediocre 8-8 never looked so good.
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