The NFL hasn’t released any of its 2020 schedule yet. That’s not going to stop us from speculating.
We know what teams the 49ers are set to play, which allows us to take a guess at which of their games might be in prime time. San Francisco, the defending NFC champs, might actually see an uptick in national TV games this season after playing six last season.
Here are seven games on the 49ers’ schedule slate that could get prime time treatment:
49ers vs. Packers at Levi’s Stadium
Perhaps the NFL will look at last year’s two 49ers-Packers matchups and decide not to put it in prime time. San Francisco beat Green Bay by a combined 46 points, and neither game was even as close as the final score. However, a rematch of the NFC Championship game should have some buzz, especially since both teams should be in the thick of the playoff race again.
49ers vs. Cowboys at AT&T Stadium
There’s no chance the NFL isn’t going to try and do something with one of their best non-divisional rivalries. The shine has worn off some since the two teams battled through the 80s and 90s, but the remnants of the once-great rivalry are still there. Both clubs should be chasing playoff spots this season, so a prime time showdown at Jerry Jones’ palace makes a lot of sense.
Both 49ers vs. Seahawks games
Last year’s games were both in prime time, so why not make it two years in a row? This is an excellent rivalry when the teams are both good, and we got two classic games when they faced off last season. They’ll likely play each other late in the schedule again, and there’s a real chance they get matched up in Week 17 again with the NFC West crown on the line.
49ers vs. Rams at SoFi Stadium
It’s hard to believe the league won’t want a few prime time showings in the Rams’ shiny new stadium. San Francisco and LA played a couple of very tight games last season, including one on a Saturday night in Santa Clara. An early-season NFC West matchup between two teams that could realistically win the division on the Rams’ brand new field would be fun.
49ers vs. Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium
Arizona played the 49ers very tough twice last year, including once on Thursday Night Football in the desert. The closer of the two games came in Santa Clara though. The Cardinals should be better and more fun this year, so it stands to reason we’ll get another great set of matchups between the two clubs. Getting at least one in prime time is a strong possibility. The case for a prime time game in Arizona is the teams were supposed to play on prime time in Mexico City with the Cardinals as the home team, but international games were cancelled. The league may opt to still put the meeting on national TV in Arizona.
49ers vs. Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome
The showdown between these teams last year in New Orleans was perhaps the game of the year. Both clubs should be very good again this year, so aiming to capture that matchup on a national stage would be a smart move for the NFL.
