49ers vs. Saints: Key matchups that’ll decide Week 12 outcome
By Peter Panacy
49ers vs. Saints matchup No. 3: George Kittle vs. Marcus Maye, Tyrann Mathieu
Two games ago, the 49ers struggled to get tight end George Kittle involved in the game plan, giving him two targets and having him catch just one.
Last week against the Cardinals, however, Kittle was a significant factor, leading the Niners with 84 yards on four receptions and two touchdowns, looking every part the All-Pro who used to be San Francisco’s No. 1 receiving weapon.
Fans will recall how Kittle set up a game-winning field goal with that memorable fourth-down, fourth-quarter grab against New Orleans back in 2019. Yet the Saints’ revamped safety room consisting of Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu will take a slightly different approach.
It doesn’t mean Kittle will have a boring game, though.
Read More: 49ers vs. Saints: Week 12 betting odds, prediction
Entering Week 12, New Orleans has allowed only 362 yards to tight ends, which is fourth lowest in the NFL.
Kittle is still a different breed, but it might be a slugfest for him to climb up the yardage list against a safety tandem that should be viewed as one of the better duos in the NFL right now even if it’s not getting that kind of recognition.