The 49ers faced their toughest test of the 2023 NFL season in Week 5 when they hosted the Cowboys.
The Cowboys entered the game with the NFL's top-scoring defense and enough offensive weaponry to make many think that they would test the 49ers.
Instead, San Francisco vanquished them with ease, earning a 42-10 win that was never really in doubt.
Brock Purdy put together another fantastic game, going 17 of 24 for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey logged just 78 scrimmage yards but extended his touchdown-scoring streak to 14 consecutive games.
And defensively, the 49ers gave Dak Prescott fits throughout the win and held Dallas to just 59 rushing yards during the lopsided contest.
The 49ers' resounding victory should only further cement them as the Super Bowl favorite. And at 5-0, they are one of just two unbeaten teams remaining in the NFL along with the reigning NFC champion Eagles.
MORE: 49ers dominate Cowboys in lopsided "Sunday Night Football" clash
But just how long might the 49ers remain undefeated? Below is a breakdown of their schedule and the toughest opponents they will face in the coming weeks.
49ers schedule 2023
The 49ers have won all five of their games to date and have three more to play before their midseason bye in Week 9. Below is a look at how their schedule shakes out the rest of the 2023 season.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
| 1 | Sept. 10 | at Steelers | W, 30-7 |
| 2 | Sept. 17 | at Rams | W, 30-23 |
| 3 | Sept. 21 | vs. Giants | W, 30-12 |
| 4 | Oct. 1 | vs. Cardinals | W, 35-16 |
| 5 | Oct. 8 | vs. Cowboys | W, 42-10 |
| 6 | Oct. 15 | at Browns | — |
| 7 | Oct. 23 | at Vikings | — |
| 8 | Oct. 29 | vs. Bengals | — |
| 9 | BYE | — | — |
| 10 | Nov. 12 | at Jaguars | — |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | vs. Buccaneers | — |
| 12 | Nov. 23 | at Seahawks | — |
| 13 | Dec. 3 | at Eagles | — |
| 14 | Dec. 10 | vs. Seahawks | — |
| 15 | Dec. 17 | at Cardinals | — |
| 16 | Dec. 25 | vs. Ravens | — |
| 17 | Dec. 31 | at Commanders | — |
| 18 | Jan. 6/7 | vs. Rams | — |
MORE: Brock Purdy chasing history with immaculate record as a starter
49ers schedule breakdown, toughest opponents
The 49ers appear to have a favorable stretch ahead of their bye week. None of the three teams they are set to play before then — the Browns (2-2), Vikings (1-4) and Bengals (2-3) — have a winning record, so San Francisco should be favored in each contest.
That said, each of those three opponents has a strength that could challenge the 49ers. The Browns have a top-tier defense that sports one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, Myles Garrett; the Vikings have a good offense that can engage in shootouts with even the best offenses in the NFL; and the Bengals are a well-rounded team that has been tough to beat when Joe Burrow is fully healthy.
Among those opponents, the Bengals stand out as one that might be the toughest for the 49ers. Burrow hasn't been himself to start the season because of a calf injury, but he looked a bit healthier in Cincinnati's 31-17 Week 5 win over the Cardinals. If he's in better shape by Week 8 and gets Tee Higgins back, that could end up being a close game.
MORE: Why Brock Purdy is one of the cheapest starting quarterbacks in the NFL
After the bye, the 49ers' schedule gets a bit tougher. They have a stretch of five consecutive games against winning teams, and that includes one against the 5-0 Eagles.
Philadelphia, naturally, is the toughest team on San Francisco's schedule. However, the Eagles may not be the first team to trip up the 49ers, as the two squads won't meet until Week 13. The 49ers will face some tough matchups before then, including road games against an improving Jaguars offense and a trip to face the rival Seahawks at Lumen Field.
If the 49ers somehow get through that game without a loss, then the chatter around a potential undefeated season will begin.
But at this point, it's still far too early to start talking about 17-0. The more pertinent conversation is about whether they will outlast the Eagles as the last remaining unbeaten team.
Considering that the Eagles have to face the Dolphins, Cowboys, Chiefs and Bills before they meet the 49ers, it looks like San Francisco has the inside track toward being the NFL's final undefeated team in 2023.
