After smothering Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez and Green Bay’s Jermichael Finley, San Francisco tight ends accounted for 75% of the passing game. That raised the stat line for opposing tight ends versus the Giants to 95 catches for 1,172 and nine touchdowns (versus just three picks). That gives opponents a passer rating of 94.7 when throwing to tight ends, worse than the NFL average of 82.5 and worse than the 85.2 rating the Giants allowed to all receivers this year.
If pass success is the best test, then the key coverage assignments should be given to Grant and linebacker Chase Blackburn. Since being signed midseason, Blackburn has allowed a paltry passer rating of 7.0 to tight ends he’s covered (11 targets). But expect Tom Brady to employ his dynamic duo against New York’s starting safeties—Antrel Rolle (117.4 passer rating on 22 TE targets) and Kenny Phillips (101.6 on 18).
Here’s the chart:
