The 49ers will open the 2019 season at the site of one of their worst performances of 2018. San Francisco will be at Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers to start the year according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. They’ll play their first home game against the Steelers.
San Francisco was blown out 27-9 by the Buccaneers in Week 12 last season. The 9 points were tied for the 49ers’ lowest output of the season despite the Bucs owning one of the league’s worst defenses.
It’ll be an opportunity for a symbolic victory to open the year for the 49ers. Getting a win in Week 1 against a team that thoroughly dismantled them the previous year would be a good way to open a crucial 2019 campaign. The game in Tampa Bay will also be a reunion for newly-signed linebacker Kwon Alexander. He spent the first four years of his career with the Buccaneers. There are some questions about whether he’ll be ready to play in Week 1 though as he continues recovering from an ACL tear late last October.
Maiocco also reported San Francisco will play two road games before facing the Steelers on Sept. 22 at Levi’s Stadium. Their Week 2 opponent is still unknown. Their remaining non-division road games include the Saints, Ravens, Bengals and Washington.
The 49ers haven’t faced the Steelers since visiting Pittsburgh in Week 2 of the 2015 season. The Steelers cruised to a 43-18 victory in that contest. San Francisco’s last home game against the Steelers was a Monday night contest in Week 15 of the 2011 campaign. The 49ers rolled 20-3 in that one.
The NFL’s full schedule will be released at 5:00 PM PT.
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