The Green Bay Packers will square off against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12 in a battle between two juggernauts in the NFC. For the Packers to have a better chance of winning the game, tight end Jimmy Graham is going to need to put together a solid performance.
Since signing with Green Bay before the 2018 season, Graham hasn't been the same player that he once was. Still, the veteran pass-catcher has shown that he can always be a difference-maker in the offense when his number is called.
Through the first 11 weeks, Graham has hauled in 27 receptions for 310 yards and three touchdowns. At the least, Graham has already surpassed his touchdown total from last year.
While Green Bay boasts an impressive 8-2 record, they haven't needed Aaron Rodgers to put the ball through the air as much as previous seasons. Furthermore, Rodgers has only had one game this season where he attempted more than 40 passes.
With that being said, Sunday night's game versus the 49ers could force Green Bay to throw the ball more. In that case, Graham becomes a vital part of the Packers' offense in Week 12.
San Francisco's pass defense is much improved, in large part due to the rejuvenation of cornerback Richard Sherman and the other members of the secondary. Currently, the 49ers own the No. 1 ranked pass defense, giving up only 142.5 passing yards per game.
The strength of San Francisco's secondary is their cornerback group led by Sherman. The 49ers will likely try to have their All-Pro corner on Pro Bowl wide-out Davante Adams as often as possible on Sunday night.
As a result, that leaves it for the rest of Green Bay's pass-catching options to pick up the slack. Without a doubt, Matt LaFleur wants to get his running game going early and often. Expect to see a heavy dose of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams.
At the same time, the Packers could have success throwing the ball over the middle of the field. Of course, that is where Graham does the majority of his damage.
The veteran tight end has only had two games this season where he has combined for four receptions and 50 yards. In a game with plenty of playmakers, Graham likely won't need to have a career game against the 49ers in Week 12.
Instead, Green Bay would love to get a game where Graham can make catches in crucial moments. Given that, Graham could finish with five catches for 50 yards and aid in his team's chances of prevailing over San Francisco.
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