1 key reason the 49ers 2025 schedule is significantly easier than their 2024 schedule

USA Today

15-05-2025

1 key reason the 49ers 2025 schedule is significantly easier than their 2024 schedule
There's a subtle change in the San Francisco 49ers schedule in 2025 that, on paper, makes their slate of games dramatically easier than last season.
Thanks to the divisional rotation and a last-place finish in 2024, there's already a dip in opponent quality. However, last season's gauntlet also featured a brutal minus-22 rest differential. That means the 49ers cumulatively had 22 fewer days of rest than their opponents. It was the third-worst rest differential since 2002 according to ESPN's Brian Burke. The year before that in 2023 their rest differential was minus-20.
A negative rest differential isn't happening again in 2025. In fact, San Francisco holds a plus-nine advantage over their opponents. They'll face zero teams coming off bye weeks and they'll only be at a disadvantage in one week on the initial schedule.
Here is the 49ers rest advantage broken down by each week:
Week 1 at Seattle Seahawks
There's no rest advantage to be gained in Week 1.
Weekly rest differential: 0
Yearly rest differential: 0
Week 2 at New Orleans Saints
Both the 49ers and Saints play Sunday in Week 1, so they'll be even in Week 2.
Weekly rest differential: 0
Yearly rest differential: 0
Week 3 vs. Arizona Cardinals
More of the same here with Arizona and San Francisco both playing on Sunday.
Weekly rest differential: 0
Yearly rest differential: 0
Week 4 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville is home against Houston on Sunday in Week 3, making it another neutral rest game for the 49ers and their opponent.
Weekly rest differential: 0
Yearly rest differential: 0
Week 5 at Los Angeles Rams (TNF)
Both teams will be on a short week after playing Sunday. While a Thursday night game isn't ideal on a truncated week, there's no advantage for either team.
Weekly rest differential: 0
Yearly rest differential: 0
Week 6 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It only took six weeks, but we're finally at a game where the 49ers have a rest advantage! They get Friday, Saturday and Sunday off in Week 5 after playing Thursday night. That gives them three extra days off going into their Sunday game with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is in Seattle on Sunday in Week 5.
Weekly rest differential: +3
Yearly rest differential: +3
Week 7 vs. Atlanta (SNF)
Primetime at Levi's Stadium is always fun. It'll be a little extra fun for the 49ers since they'll be at a rest advantage here. Atlanta hosts Buffalo on Monday Night Football in Week 6, giving them one fewer day off between games.
Weekly rest differential: +1
Yearly rest differential: +4
Week 8 at Houston Texans
New week, same scenario. The 49ers play Sunday night in Week 7, but the Texans play Monday night giving them the one-day disadvantage in their matchup with San Francisco.
Weekly rest differential: +1
Yearly rest differential: +5
Week 9 at New York Giants
Both teams play Sunday, and this will be a trend through Week 12.
Weekly rest differential: +0
Yearly rest differential: +5
Week 10 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Weekly rest differential: +0
Yearly rest differential: +5
Week 11 at Arizona Cardinals
Weekly rest differential: +0
Yearly rest differential: +5
Week 12 vs. Carolina Panthers (MNF)
Weekly rest differential: +0
Yearly rest differential: +5
Week 13 at Cleveland Browns
This marks the only week on the initial schedule where the 49ers won't have at least a neutral rest differential. The Browns play Sunday in Week 12, while the 49ers play Monday. That leaves San Francisco with one fewer day between games.
Weekly rest differential: -1
Yearly rest differential: +4
Week 14 Bye
This late Bye week could either help or hurt the 49ers. 13 consecutive weeks is a long time to play without a week off, but it also gives them a late-season rest to get right for the stretch run. Either way, it gives them a big opportunity to pick up rest advantage days.
Week 15 vs. Tennessee Titans
Last season the 49ers came off their Bye week to face the Jaguars who were also coming off their Bye. That's not the case this year. Tennessee is in Cleveland the week before visiting Levi's Stadium.
Weekly rest differential: +7
Yearly rest differential: +11
Week 16 at Indianapolis Colts (MNF)
The Colts are in Seattle on Sunday the previous week, so Monday's game will be a neutral rest contest for both clubs.
Weekly rest differential: +0
Yearly rest differential: +11
Week 17 vs. Chicago Bears (SNF)
This is a tough one for the 49ers, reminiscent of previous years where they got hit in every conceivable way with minus rest differentials. Not only does San Francisco lose a day because they play Monday night, they're hosting a Bears club that plays the previous Saturday, giving them two extra days off than the typical one that comes when facing a team coming off a MNF contest.
Weekly rest differential: -2
Yearly rest differential: +9
Week 18 vs. Seattle Seahawks
There's a chance one extra day subtracted here for San Francisco. Their game vs. Seattle could take place on Saturday or Sunday. Seattle's previous game is also a Saturday OR Sunday bout. The 49ers lose a day no matter what if the Seahawks play Saturday in Week 17 vs. the Panthers no matter what day the Week 18 game happens. They'll remain a neutral if Seattle plays Sunday in Week 18 no matter what day the Week 18 game happens.
Weekly rest differential: - 1 OR 0
Yearly rest differential: +8 OR +9