Jimmy Graham & Pierre Garcon -- Ballin' it Up with U.S. Soldiers ... In Afghanistan

Jimmy Graham only knows one speed -- game speed -- and during a USO trip to Afghanistan last week, he broke out his basketball skills during a 1-on-1 game with a U.S. solider.

The New Orleans Saints star -- along with Redskins WR Pierre Garcon and Dolphins punter Brandon Fields -- went to the Middle East to visit soldiers in the field.

"It was an uplifting experience," Garcon tells TMZ Sports ... "It's amazing seeing the work they are doing to protect us."

Garcon says everyone he met was a huge sports fan -- "They were telling us stories about how they wake up at 3am to watch football. And then depending on how their team does, they're in a good mood or bad for the rest of the day."

The gang not only traveled, ate and hung out with the soldiers -- they also tossed around a football in their downtime.