Packers: Top five performers in Week 2 tie vs. Vikings

2. Jimmy Graham

In Week 1, Jimmy Graham was a non-factor. But against the Vikings, Graham had six catches for 95 yards.

His day could have been bigger. In the second quarter, he had a step on a Vikings defender. Rodgers put a perfect pass right on Graham. The defender had a hold of Graham’s hands and the pass fell incomplete. That should have been a 20-plus yard pass interference call. Instead the flag was kept in the ref’s pocket and the drive stalls.

Next, in the third quarter with about seven minutes left to play, Rodgers hits Graham with the perfect back-shoulder pass for a touchdown. Only the play was nullified by a very questionable holding call on Lane Taylor, and the Packers had to settle for a field goal. I thought it was interesting after the play that Graham was taken out of the game in favor of Marcedes Lewis.

Graham just made a great catch for what would have been a score, but was then just a spectator on the next. I would think this was a key moment that Graham would have been better suited to be in on the play.

Graham also dropped what would have been a tough catch with 10:29 left in the fourth quarter on a free play. The Vikings were offside and the Packers got five yards on the penalty. The catch would have made the difference in the game, as they again settled for a field goal.

Graham did have the longest completion of any Packers receiver. Graham’s 34-yard reception on third down gave the team a first down and led to a field goal.

Graham also showed off his athleticism, catching a short pass and leaping a defender to gain an extra 10-12 yards and a first down.

Graham was much more involved in this game than in Week 1. Going forward we will need to see more production like this. He was the key free agent acquisition in the offseason, and he Packers will have to find a way to get Graham the ball in the red zone.