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First Touchdown Scorer Predictions for Thursday Night Football Week 16

Rodrigo Villagomez

Last Updated: December 19, 2024 2:22 PM EST • 2 min 56 sec read.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey in action as we look at our first touchdown scorers for Week 16 Thursday Night Football
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey in action against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photo by Brett Davis / Imagn Images.

A trip to the postseason is on the line as the Denver Broncos square off against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. 

Action from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., gets underway at 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video). Los Angeles is a 2.5-point favorite, but Mike Spector's Broncos vs. Chargers prediction thinks the home team can get it done.

As part of our Week 16 NFL predictions, my first touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football highlight two receivers poised to take advantage of their matchup and score first in the game. However, finding good candidates proved different for both teams for different reasons.

The Chargers have scored first in eight games this season. However, they have failed to do so in their last three contests. 

Sixteen different Broncos have crossed the goal line this season, both offensively and defensively. Five players have crossed the goal line first in the six games in which Denver posted the first touchdown. 

First touchdown scorer predictions Thursday Night Football: Week 16

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Broncos first touchdown scorer prediction: Courtland Sutton, WR ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +1000 via bet365 | Implied probability: 9.09%

Sutton is enjoying his best season in Denver since his 2019 sophomore campaign. He’s on pace for his second 1,000-yard season in receiving and is four touchdowns away from his highest output of ten from last year.

The veteran wideout has found the end zone in five games so far this season including the last time these teams met in October.

Opponents have had success running the ball against the Chargers as Los Angeles is allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game this season. However, that success has not translated to touchdowns as only five running backs have crossed the goal line against this defense all year. 

Denver running backs totaled just 44 rushing yards and were held out of the end zone against the Chargers in Week 6. I anticipate Nix to utilize his receiving talent yet again this week giving Sutton a solid opportunity to strike first.

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Chargers first touchdown scorer prediction: Ladd McConkey, WR ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: +750 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 11.76%

McConkey has shot to the top of the Chargers receiving corps in his rookie season leading the team in targets (88), receptions (63), and receiving yards (873). He’s caught five touchdown passes this year putting him second behind Quentin Johnston in that category.

The rookie has turned 67% of his red zone receptions into touchdowns this year with 80% of his touchdown total coming from inside the 20-yard line. This is an encouraging situation given 66% of Los Angeles touchdowns have been scored in the red zone this year.

Denver is surrendering the second-highest touchdown percentage (83.3%) over the last three games. They have the third-worst percentage at home (75%) over the entire season. 

A $10 bet on McConkey to score first will bring back a $75 profit.

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Written By:
Rodrigo Villagomez
Rod has been a contributing author at Sportsbook Review for the last two years specializing in NASCAR and NFL prop betting. He has been writing and podcasting professionally for almost 20 years, spending the last four years in the sports gambling space. Rod has made several appearances on the SiriusXM Fantasy Sports channel. He’s appeared multiple times on the Fantasy Alarm Show with Howard Bender as well as several times over the last two years during the FSGA Draft Week. He is a published author in the academic world with an article on steroids in baseball featured in the Bedford Reader textbook. Rod loves to find non-traditional bets which has led him to dive into the world of defensive and kicking props in football among others. His love of motorsports has translated into several winning weeks of both NASCAR and Formula 1 bets. Rod is a fan first and aims to provide betting picks that are not only profitable but will provide the maximum entertainment value during the sweat. Ultimately, he tries to remember that watching sports should still be fun and anything else is icing on the cake.