What are the Five Most Exciting Games on the 49ers 2023 Schedule?

The 2023 schedule for the San Francisco 49ers officially dropped Thursday.

It now gives everyone a clear picture of how the season will look travel wise and for primetime games. Every game on the schedule is sure to bring its own unique level of excitement. The season opener is always a good one since everyone gets to finally see their team back in action.

But there are always some games that are significantly higher up the totem pole when it comes to being a must-see game. They end up drawing greater anticipation than others. So, what are the five most exciting games on the 49ers 2023 schedule?

Week 5 vs Dallas Cowboys

This game was immediately circled even before the schedule was released. Anytime the 49ers get to face the Cowboys, it is always one that is going to be highly anticipated. But the fact that it is going to be in primetime on Sunday Night Football only stokes the flame. Both of these teams are the clear-cut top favorites in the NFC this year and have had a couple of intriguing matchups in the playoffs recently.

Putting this game early in the season for Week 5 is a job well done by the NFL. There was no point in letting this one sit for the bulk of the season. Scheduling it early made too much sense because the buildup for this matchup is going to be riveting. The last thing they want is for injuries or poor performances to dampen the excitement level for this game.

Week 8 vs Cincinnati Bengals

It's always good to see where the 49ers stack up in the NFL as a whole. Facing the Bengals who are one of the top teams in the league is a matchup that will accomplish that. This game could potentially be a Super Bowl preview, so of course it is going to make for an exciting matchup. Both teams have Super Bowl aspirations and can definitely make an appearance this year.

The 49ers will get to face an electric offense led by Joe Burrow. Assuming the 49ers will still be an elite defense, the battle between them and the Bengals offense will be stupendous. The last time these two teams squared off was in 2021 in Cincinnati and it did not disappoint. This time around it will be at Levi's Stadium, so the 49ers will get that advantage.

Week 12 vs Seattle Seahawks

The Rams had been the team for the last few years that have been the most exciting division matchup for the 49ers. Well, that is certainly over for 2023 as the Seahawks are seated back atop as the most thrilling division matchup with the 49ers. The animosity is back and relevant again now that both teams are playoff contenders.

It is no wonder why the NFL placed this game in primetime on Thursday Night Football. They are two box office teams that showcase highly competitive battles. The 49ers won in Seattle last year in primetime to win the NFC West, so they are hoping to get another one to make it consecutive wins there for the first time in well over a decade.

Week 13 at Philadelphia Eagles

Is facing the Eagles the most anticipated matchup of the season for the 49ers? I would lean yes. Viewers were robbed of a potentially superb NFC Championship game early in the contest when Brock Purdy injured his elbow on the opening drive. The 49ers could not run a functional offense without him after that. So, this game gives the 49ers a chance to rewrite history a bit.

Plus, there was a ton of trash talking between the two sides following the game for the next few weeks. There is definitely going to be a show put on between the two sides when they square off in Philadelphia. It is going to feel like a playoff game with the crowd shaking the entire stadium. A bit surprising that the NFL made this game toward the end of the season and not in primetime, but it could always be flexed if they are both having dominant seasons.

Week 16 vs Baltimore Ravens

This one is the most debatable to have as a top five exciting game of the 2023 season. But the Ravens can make for an incredible buildup and live up to the expectations like the previous games listed here. For starters, this game is being played on Christmas Day in primetime on Monday Night Football. That alone sets the tone already. It is only the second time that the 49ers will play on Christmas Day since 1994, and they do so at home on national television.

Why I feel this game is debatable in terms of excitement is because I am not sure if the Ravens will be that great by season's end. They started out strong in 2022 but fell off. A large part of that is the injury to Lamar Jackson that had him miss chunk of the season. He can very well miss games due to injury again given the trend he has been on the last two year. But I'm going to remain optimistic that he will be healthy playing at an elite level that we're accustomed to along with the rest of the team. That is what will make facing the 49ers so exciting.