Joe Flacco, CJ Stroud, Tua Tagovailoa, and Patrick Mahomes. Not bad for a star-studded cast to open up the NFL Wild Card weekend – and yes, Joe Flacco is a star. Only one game is expecting temperatures below zero, but even indoors, the Texans may struggle against that menacing Browns defense. Two games and a Wild Card Saturday first touchdown picks bonanza, including our Browns first touchdown pick and Chiefs fist touchdown pick.
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Wild Card Saturday First Touchdown Picks for Saturday
Cleveland Browns First Touchdown Scorer
The Texans are in trouble. Not because Joe Flacco boasts a ridiculous 11-4 ATS record – 9-3 ATS on the road – nor is it Myles Garrett roaming around the field. It’s Cleveland’s tight end, specifically David Njoku. Flacco immediately established a connection when taking over in Week 13 and it’s an even better play against this specific Texans team.
The two squads just squared off on Christmas Eve, where Njoku caught six of nine passes, including a score. The Texans are brutal against the TE position, not just allowing yardage and scores but consistent catches. Flacco could just pepper his favorite target the entire opening drive, forcing Houston to scramble on defense, all while Cleveland seals it with a score.
OddsShopper currently has Njoku at 11-1 to score first at FanDuel. Anything north of +950 seems like value for the most valuable receiver on the Browns.
Browns-Texans First Touchdown Picks: David Njoku +1100 at FanDuel for 0.25 Units
Kansas City Chiefs First Touchdown Scorer
Are the Miami Dolphins going to score? The conditions are incomprehensibly bad for a team nestled in South Beach. They also face the one thing working, weekly, for the Chiefs – their defense. Protecting Tua has been an issue in warm weather, now it’s below zero with the wind chill. Miami’s running back spot is not healthy, and they are thin at offensive line. Hard to think that outside of someone on KC falling down, the Dolphins will rack up points on the road.
It’s not a great spot for a struggling Chiefs offense either. The game script for Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes centers around throwing the football, but like most great teams, they can adjust. We expect an early dose of Isiah Pacheco getting touches on the ground, and even mixed in with some quick throws in the red zone.
Things have flipped for KC on offense; their pass protection is struggling yet their run game can thrive. Reid is no fool, expect Pacheco to get right back to where he left off against Miami earlier in the year, dominating.
Texans-Colts First Touchdown Picks: Isiah Pacheco +550 at PointsBet for 0.25 Units
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