Here's the 49ers regular-season schedule. Some of the things that immediately jump out:
* Their "home" game in London on October 31 will be preceded by an away game in Carolina. The 49ers will fly directly from Charlotte, N.C. to London following the game without returning to the West Coast. That's the shortest flight from any of their away games. As expected, the bye week follows the London game. In case you're wondering, the Broncos host the Raiders the week before the London game. Plane tickets from SFO to London for that week -- assuming the volcano gods aren't angry -- are around $700.
* The 49ers open on the road against Seattle and three of their first four games are on the road. Perhaps more significant is that four of their final six games are on the road, three of them against potential playoff contenders in Green Bay, Arizona and San Diego. Last year's game in Green Bay had sunny and (relatively) warm weather. This year's game is on Dec. 5 and the 49ers have a short week to prepare for it. Ouch.
* The 49ers play two games on Monday night. The first comes in Week Two, a home game against the Super Bowl champion Saints. The next one is on the road in Arizona on Nov. 29. They also have a Sunday night game against Kevin Kolb and the Eagles and a game on the NFL Network in San Diego on Thursday, Dec. 16.
* They play division rival Arizona twice in six weeks, including in the finale, at home. The NFL obviously is betting that that game will be for all the NFC West marbles. That game also could be moved to prime time, potentially giving the 49ers five prime time games.
* The 49ers' first preseason game isn't until Aug. 15. Teams aren't allowed to begin training camp any earlier than 15 days before their first game, so expect training camp in Santa Clara to begin July 31.
Preseason schedule:
Sunday, August 15 @ Indianapolis
Sunday, August 22 Vs. Minnesota
Week 3 @ Oakland
Thursday, September 2 Vs. San Diego
Regular-season schedule:
Week 1, Sunday, Sept. 12. @ Seahawks
Week 2, Monday, Sept. 20 Vs. Saints (Monday night)
Week 3, Sunday, Sept. 26 @ Chiefs
Week 4, Sunday, Oct. 3 @ Falcons
Week 5, Sunday, Oct. 10 Vs. Eagles (Sunday night)
Week 6, Sunday, Oct. 17 Vs. Raiders
Week 7, Sunday, Oct. 24 @ Panthers
Week 8, Sunday, Oct. 31. Vs. Broncos (London)
Week 9, Bye
Week 10, Sunday, Nov. 14 Vs. Rams
Week 11, Nov. 21 Vs. Bucs
Week 12, Nov. 29 @ Cardinals (Monday night)
Week 13, Dec. 5 @ Packers
Week 14, Dec. 12 Vs. Seahawks
Week 15, Dec. 16 @ Chargers (Thursday night)
Week 16, Dec. 26 @ Rams
Week 17, Jan. 2 Vs. Cardinals
-- Matt Barrows
