Sometimes dessert is the best part of the meal. Be it Thanksgiving or the three game slate available on Thursday, the 49ers-Seahawks battle has to be the most anticipated of the trio. It’s why our 49ers-Seahawks first touchdown picks should be a part of your gobble day festivities.
It’s the only game of the three featuring two teams currently inside the playoff standings with both San Francisco and Seattle looking to clean up some things on a short week. The 49ers responded after a three-game skid by winning two straight, the latest against a miserable Buccaneers team. The Seahawks are just a game behind the 49ers as the two teams play twice over the next three weeks. Here are the best first touchdown plays for Thursday (Thanksgiving) Night Football!
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49ers-Seahawks First Touchdown Picks | Thanksgiving Night
San Francisco 49ers Touchdown Scorer
Brock Purdy has an embarrassment of riches in receivers when it comes to a first touchdown, or really any touchdown for that matter. It only gets more difficult for the Seahawks defense as a healthy Deebo Samuel is back wreaking havoc. Between Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffery, there are some strong options to score first against Seattle.
Aiyuk comes off a first touchdown against the Jags, followed up by McCaffery scoring first against Tampa Bay. The impressive McCaffery currently sits as heavy chalk at 3-1 to score first. It’s mainly because he stands as good a chance scoring first off a catch as he does with his feet. What stands out is actually Aiyuk’s number more than anyone else at 8-1, the same as Samuel. Since coming back from injury Samuel has yet to register any touchdowns in the air, yet has the same number to score as a staple receiver in Aiyuk. Kittle is hanging back a little but Seattle will be focused more on the middle of the field, trying to remove Kittle and any crossing options from Samuel.
The big play always resides with Aiyuk but so does the coverage against him. Nobody should benefit more from a healthy Samuel than the wideout lining up on the other side of the formation. Nobody uses pre-snap motion better than the 49ers, and that carries over into actual routes. With all the confusion of stopping a dangerous Samuel, revamped Kittle, and dual threat McCaffery, there’s Brandon Aiyuk ready to make any 1 on 1 coverage pay. He’s a red zone target even if San Fran throws from their own side of the field.
49ers-Seahawks First Touchdown Picks for TNF: Brandon Aiyuk +800 at FanDuel Sportsbook for 0.25 Units
Seattle Seahawks First Touchdown Scorer
This year’s Seahawks team might be one of the better representations for how good of a coach Pete Carroll truly is. His team isn’t doing anything spectacular or dominant, if anything, overcoming areas of struggle by still sitting just one game back of the division lead. The Seahawks can’t run; 25th in the NFL rushing the ball. They can’t defend the run either; 19th overall against it. Their secondary is bottom third in the league defending the air game. The only thing that looks more than competent is Seattle’s ability to throw.
Injury has hampered Geno Smith’s targets but the quarterback with new life out west is still a threat to move the ball effectively against the 49ers. Of the 12 passing touchdowns thrown by Smith, a combined seven have gone to either DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett. It’s a short turnaround for everyone, especially Smith dealing with an elbow injury and Metcalf with a toe injury. The latter may miss this game against San Francisco, but with concern surrounding Smith, it’s hard to just pour money on Lockett.
Carroll is no dummy. He’s fully aware of the health of his own players, as are the books with running back Zach Charbonnet taking over as the chalk for Seattle’s first touchdown. Charbonnet has filled in well for an injured Kenneth Walker III and should be the focus here to score first. The number isn’t as long as either starting receiver, but who cares when Charbonnet cashes that 7-1 ticket. Be like Pete Carroll and back the running back here.
49ers-Seahawks First Touchdown Picks for TNF: Zach Charbonnet +700 at FanDuel Sportsbook for 0.25 Units
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