Monday Night Football Anytime Touchdown Scorer Best Bets (Sept. 28): Eagles vs. Bears Odds & Picks

Monday Night Football heads to Soldier Field, where the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Chicago Bears. The point spread favors the unbeaten Eagles, but the touchdown market presents a different question: Which players will finish drives when these teams reach scoring territory?

(Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

The Eagles arrive 2-0 after a 24-20 comeback victory at Tennessee. Jalen Hurts has thrown five touchdown passes through two games, while Saquon Barkley has yet to score. Barkley’s quiet start comes with context: A stinger suffered on Philadelphia’s first offensive play against the Titans limited him to four carries.

Chicago’s first two weeks could hardly have looked more different. The Bears opened with 59 points, then failed to score a touchdown in a 9-3 loss to Minnesota. D’Andre Swift remains a central part of the offense, with three rushing touchdowns through two games. He also scored in Chicago's regular-season win over Philadelphia last season.

Chicago’s Quarterback Change Shapes the Handicap

Caleb Williams is out with a hamstring injury, and Case Keenum is expected to start for Chicago. Keenum worked with the first-team offense for much of the practice week while Tyson Bagent was in concussion protocol. Bagent has since been cleared, but Keenum is positioned to lead Ben Johnson’s offense against Vic Fangio’s defense. His challenge will be sustaining drives if Philadelphia contains the run and forces obvious passing downs.

Philadelphia has its own availability questions, but Barkley practiced fully after the stinger. A return to his usual workload would give Hurts a familiar option near the goal line while presenting bettors with a choice between the running back and quarterback. Both have credible routes to the end zone; neither needs a high-scoring game to cash an anytime touchdown ticket.

The Bears won the teams’ previous meeting by controlling the ground game. They will try to establish that approach again with a different quarterback under center. With the total at 41.5, touches and goal-line roles deserve more attention than the projected winner when choosing a scorer.

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Here are the odds for Monday’s game, via DraftKings:

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, Monday Night Football Betting Odds (Sept. 28)

• Spread: Philadelphia -3.5 (-112) | Chicago +3.5 (-108)
• Moneyline: Philadelphia (-198) | Chicago (+164)
• Total: Over 41.5 (-110) | Under 41.5 (-110)

The Bears can use Swift and Kyle Monangai to create manageable downs for Keenum. Swift offers an established scoring role, although Monangai’s involvement means bettors cannot assume one back will get every carry near the goal line.

For Philadelphia, the distinction is who finishes a promising possession. Barkley offers rushing and receiving routes to a score. Hurts can instead keep the ball when the Eagles get close enough for a short-yardage play.

Monday Night Football Anytime Touchdown Scorer Best Bets

True, the Eagles have allowed just two touchdowns this season, while the Bears have allowed only three. However, with both teams leaning on ball-control offenses and power-scoring weapons who can plow in at close range, those numbers could change tonight.

These are my three strongest scorer plays at the listed prices. Barkley leads the card if his pregame status supports a full workload. Swift offers Chicago’s most established rushing path, while Hurts can turn a drive built by his teammates into a quarterback touchdown.

All bets can be found at DraftKings Sportsbook.

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Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (-105)

Saquon Barkley has rushed for 92 yards on 19 attempts through two games, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. That limited sample includes the injury-shortened trip to Tennessee, when Tank Bigsby handled most of the backfield work after Barkley was hurt. His full participation in practice makes a return to his usual role plausible, though his final status still matters.

If Barkley gets his customary opportunities, he can finish a sustained drive from close range or score before Philadelphia reaches the red zone. He also has a receiving path to the end zone, an advantage over backs whose touchdown chances depend almost entirely on handoffs. Barkley will attack a Bears defense allowing the fourth-highest red-zone percentage (80%) when an opponent goes inside the 20 and scores a touchdown.

A Full Workload Changes the Equation

Chicago must account for Hurts when defending the goal line. A keeper remains possible on any short-yardage snap, and that attention can open up a lane for Barkley. Philadelphia can also use its lead back as a receiver if the Bears crowd the line.

The competing risk is real: Hurts could take a carry Barkley needs, and Bigsby could retain a share of the work. Barkley’s case rests on his workload, not on the idea that he is "due" after two games without a score. If he is cleared for his usual role, he is my strongest anytime touchdown choice.

Chicago Bears RB D’Andre Swift (+100)

D'Andre Swift gives Chicago an established scoring option at an attractive price. Through two games, he has rushed 34 times for 169 yards, averaging five yards per carry. All three of his touchdowns came in the explosive opener; Chicago did not reach the end zone against Minnesota. The question Monday is whether the Bears can build enough drives to give their lead back another chance to finish.

Keenum benefits when the offense stays ahead of the chains, and Swift is central to that approach. The back can contribute as a runner or receiver: In last season’s 25-24 Monday night win at Washington, he rushed for 108 yards on 14 attempts and scored on a 55-yard reception.

Chicago’s Most Proven Scoring Option

Swift also has a relevant matchup example. He scored on a three-yard run in Chicago’s 24-15 regular-season victory at Philadelphia last November. One play does not predict a repeat, but it shows how the Bears used him to finish a drive against this opponent.

Monangai is the principal concern. Chicago can rotate its backs, and Swift’s early touchdown production does not guarantee him the next goal-line carry. Philadelphia could also put the Bears in a passing script by building a lead. Swift faces an Eagles defense allowing the ninth-highest red-zone percentage in the NFL (71.4%).

At +100, Swift needs Chicago to create a scoring chance and give him a meaningful part in finishing it. His demonstrated rushing role and ability to score as a receiver make him the Bears player I prefer on this board.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (+150)

Jalen Hurts is the Philadelphia alternative to Barkley, and his appeal starts with control. He handles the ball on every Eagles offensive snap. An anytime touchdown wager on Hurts, however, requires him to cross the goal line himself; a touchdown pass does not cash the ticket.

That makes his goal-line opportunities decisive. Hurts can score on a designed run, keep the ball on a short-yardage play or find space when a passing play breaks down. A possession powered by Barkley can still end with the quarterback taking the final yards.

One Keeper Can Cash the Ticket

When Philadelphia reaches the one- or two-yard line, Chicago must defend both a handoff and a keeper. That gives Hurts a scoring path distinct from Barkley’s and explains the appeal of the larger return.

The price also reflects the uncertainty. A healthy Barkley could claim the carry Hurts needs, while another productive passing night could leave the touchdowns to receivers. Hurts must also get a suitable field-position opportunity; drives that end in field goals or long scores by teammates do little for this wager.

One quarterback run is enough to cash it. At +150, Hurts is my third choice behind the two backs, especially knowing he's scored 10 rushing touchdowns in 11 MNF appearances during his career.

W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a staff analyst at Ballislife Bets. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.