49ers’ regular-season finale vs. Cardinals to be played on January 8

Saturday, January 7, or Sunday, January 8? That has been the unknown for the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 18 regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. The dates for the NFL’s slate of Week 18 games have been labeled “to be announced” since the schedule was initially released in May. That is, until today.

The NFL announced the dates for its final 16 matchups of the 2022 regular season. The 49ers will host the Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, January 8, with the kickoff time still to be determined.

The only two games moved to Saturday, January 7, are Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars. All other Week 18 action will take place the next day.

San Francisco won the first matchup against the Cardinals, a 38-10 Week 11 victory at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The NFL will announce the times for the Sunday, January 8, matchups following Monday night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.

The Cardinals have lost six consecutive games and own a 4-12 record. San Francisco is coming off a 37-34 overtime win over the Raiders and has won nine straight games for the first time since 1997.

The 49ers are currently holding onto the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture and can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win over the Cardinals and a Philadelphia Eagles loss to the New York Giants in Week 18.