Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your holiday is filled with joy, laughter and cherished moments with your loved ones – and, of course, profitable bets. Speaking of which, we’re hoping to find some with our anytime touchdown scorer bets for Christmas Day Football in NFL Week 17. With two matchups to work from, we’ll discuss our NFL expert picks as we dive into our Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans anytime touchdown scorer bets. If you need help finding sharp bets on your own, check out our guide to betting on NFL anytime touchdown scorers!
Anytime Touchdown Scorer Bets for Christmas Day
Picks by Danny Burke
Let’s start with the first game on the slate: the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Steelers’ defense has struggled mightily in recent weeks, allowing 10 passing touchdowns over their last four games – compared to just 9 in the games prior. PFF ranks their pass coverage 23rd in the league, reflecting a secondary that has regressed as the season has progressed.
This sets up an excellent opportunity for Patrick Mahomes and his receivers to exploit Pittsburgh’s weaknesses.
Since joining the Chiefs, DeAndre Hopkins has been one of Mahomes’ go-to targets, tallying 4 catches on 7 targets for 17 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hopkins’ presence should be even more impactful against this vulnerable Steelers secondary.
Best Christmas Day Anytime Touchdown Scorer: DeAndre Hopkins (+280) at FanDuel
Now, let’s move on to the second game of the Christmas Day slate: the Houston Texans hosting the Baltimore Ravens.
The addition of veteran running back Derrick Henry has diminished Lamar Jackson’s rushing touchdown numbers this season. Although Jackson has only scored three times on the ground, he remains a threat, carrying the ball 126 times for 765 yards.
The Texans have been a solid defensive unit this season, but they’ve shown some vulnerabilities against mobile quarterbacks. In Week 1, Anthony Richardson rushed 6 times for 56 yards and a touchdown. In Week 5, Josh Allen tallied 54 yards on 4 carries. Most recently, Patrick Mahomes managed 33 rushing yards and a touchdown on 5 attempts.
While Henry is likely to remain the primary option near the goal line, Houston has been effective at limiting rushing touchdowns (only 7 allowed this season). This could create an opportunity for Jackson to keep the ball on a read option and punch it in himself. Given his lack of rushing scores this year, we’re getting a bargain on his odds to do so.
Best Christmas Day Anytime Touchdown Scorer: Lamar Jackson (+215) at DraftKings
