Your San Francisco 49ers Primer: A Guide to Watching the 49ers Play Live

One of the most exciting times in California is the start of the NFL season. The state boasts three teams in the league, which means there’s plenty of excitement to be had on Sunday. Even if you’re not into football, games are oftentimes events that bring communities together and offer an excuse to hang out with friends and family. Whether you’re watching from home or making a trip to the stadium, having a little knowledge about California’s major teams is helpful.

The San Francisco 49ers are the Bay Area’s lone representative and are slated for a successful season coming off their remarkable season last year which completed with a trip to the playoffs. Led by their stout defense, amazing skill position players, and the unexpected star quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers will be one of California’s most exciting teams this season.

How to Watch the Team Play Live

If you’re going to be watching from home it should be easy to catch a game. Their games are usually broadcast on all the major sports networks such as FOX, ESPN, and CBS. You could also go out to a restaurant that’s showing the games.

For those who want to catch a game in person, the team plays in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. This is a little far from the majority of the San Francisco Bay Area, however, it’s well worth the trip. Levi’s Stadium is a modernized location full of amenities to make your trip worth it. Expect about an hour to an hour and a half for your drive. There will likely be traffic going both ways so plan accordingly. 

There are 18 weeks in the NFL season. The 49ers have 8 home games. Here is the team’s full schedule. Games in bold are home games played at Levi’s Stadium.

• Sept. 10 @ Pittsburgh
• Sept. 17 @ Los Angeles
• Sept. 21 vs. New York
• Oct. 1 vs. Arizona
• Oct. 8 vs. Dallas
• Oct 15 @ Cleveland
• Oct. 23 @ Minnesota
• Oct. 29 vs. Cincinnati
• BYE WEEK
• Nov 12 @ Jacksonville
• Nov. 19 vs. Tampa Bay
• Nov. 23 @ Seattle
• Dec. 3 @ Philadelphia
• Dec. 10 vs. Seattle
• Dec 17 @ Arizona
• Dec. 25 vs. Baltimore
• Dec. 31 @ Washington
• Jan 7 vs. Los Angeles

Tickets can be purchased through the 49ers official team website or the Levi’s Stadium box office.

There are a handful of key games on the schedule to go out of your way to watch or attend live. Week two the 49ers face off against the Los Angeles Rams, their California rival team that also boasts a talented roster of its own. Week 5 the 49ers face off against the Dallas Cowboys, the team that acquired the 49ers top pick Trey Lance in a trade. This will be a much-talked-about game. Lamar Jackson, one of the most exciting players in the league, comes to Santa Clara on Christmas Day when the Baltimore Ravens take on the 49ers.

Key Things to Know and Players to Watch

The 49ers are led by the surprising Brock Purdy. Known as Mr. Irrelevant, a distinction given to the player that is picked last in the draft, he emerged onto the scene in the wake of injuries to the team’s quarterbacks last year. Turns out, Purdy is really good. He led the team to the playoffs and is looking to solidify his status as a good starting quarterback in the NFL this year. A lot of the team’s conversation will be driven by whether or not Purdy lives up to the hype.

There’s no shortage of offensive talent on the 49ers. It’s almost an embarrassment of riches. From dynamite receivers like Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to the Swiss army knife running back core of Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, the 49ers will have an exciting offense to watch. They also boast the best tight end in the game in the powerful and charismatic George Kittle.

The team’s defense is loaded with great players and is consistently one of the top units in the league year after year. Players like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Arik Armstead dominate the field and help carry the team when the offense occasionally struggles.