1st TD scorer picks for the Wild Card Weekend
Jamaal Williams…I am sorry! I may have spoken too soon last week when I crowned Ezekiel Elliott the King of First Touchdowns, because it looks like the Lions stud RB took that personally. Williams (+700 at DraftKings) decided to score first against the Packers on Sunday night, something he hadn’t done since Week 13. The TD upped his season totals to six game-firsts (most in the NFL) and seven team-firsts.
Not only did he get back in the first-TD mix, Williams added another score later in the game to break Barry Sanders’ franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a season. So, Jamaal, please accept my apology. And for what it’s worth, I had a ticket on you! Thank you for the wins all season long. I’m heartbroken we don’t get to keep betting on Jamaal Williams in the playoffs.
I’d like to give out a few more thank yous before looking at all of the Wild Card matchups…
- The Browns: They finished as the NFL’s best team in this category, scoring the game’s first touchdown in 13 of their 17 games. I cashed a number of times betting on Cleveland based on my system of betting on the more successful first-TD team. Nick Chubb was their MVP, finding the end zone first in four games this year.
- The Chargers: Over the back half of the season: After starting the season with just three first touchdowns through eight games, Los Angeles has now scored first in six straight, and eight of their last nine. They’re automatic at this point.
- Ezekiel Elliott: He led the league this year in scoring first for his team, doing it eight times, five of which were the game’s first. Zeke was always a short-shot, but worth the risk.
- The Colts: Indy was SO bad at scoring first this year, it was easy to target players on their opponent’s side. The Colts only managed to score first in four games this entire season, which is the worst total in the league. Not only that, their offense was so pitiful, there were four games this season in which they didn’t find the end zone at all!
- The Jets: Over the back half of the season: New York ended the season without scoring a touchdown, at any point, in three straight games. This upped their season total of end zone-free games to FIVE this season! They only scored first one time in their last nine games. It was beyond easy to bet a few guys on the opponent’s side each week.