NFL AFC & NFC Championship Touchdown Scorer Predictions: Who Will Score The First Touchdown Sunday, January 25

The 2026 NFL playoffs will continue, and Sunday marks the start of the next round! In this article, we will look at first touchdown scorer predictions for the AFC and NFC Championship showdowns.

(Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

As mentioned in previous articles, betting on the first touchdown scorer can be extremely rewarding, but risky. A fun way to make some coin, the odds are higher. That said, always bet responsibly.

Today, bettors get an AFC Championship matchup featuring the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. Earning a first-round BYE as the No.1 seed in the AFC, the Broncos didn't strike first against the Buffalo Bills last week. However, offensive tackle Frank Crum scored the first touchdown for Denver. And no one saw that coming.

RELATED: AFC & NFC CHAMPIONSHIP ANYTIME TOUCHDOWN BETS

In the Patriots' 28-16 divisional round victory over the Houston Texans, it was DeMario Douglas who hauled in the first touchdown. Tight end Hunter Henry scored the lone first touchdown in New England's 16-3 wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

NFL AFC & NFC Championship First Touchdown Scorer Predictions

Sunday night's NFC Championship Game will feature the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.  Earning playoff wins against the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears, the Rams scored first in both of them. In fact, Puka Nacua scored the first touchdown against LA, and Kyren Williams scored against Chicago.

Notably, Rashid Shaheed returned a 95-yard kickoff return for the first Seattle touchdown last week.

Overall, the Seahawks lead the pack, scoring the first touchdown in 13 games this season. Trailing are the Rams, scoring the first touchdown in 12 total games. The Broncos and Patriots have struck first in 10 and nine of their NFL matchups.

According to VSiN, the Broncos have a 55.6% chance to score first at home against the Patriots on Sunday. Additionally, the Seahawks hold a 72.2% chance to find the end zone first against the Rams. While stats back up the numbers, it's truly a gamble, literally.

Here are my top first touchdown scorer bets for Sunday, Jan. 25, AFC & NFC Championship matchups featuring the Patriots vs. Broncos and Rams vs. Seahawks. I've provided my top two first touchdown scorer bets for each team.

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NFL First Touchdown Scorer Predictions AFC Championship: New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos

Patriots Best First Touchdown Scorer Odds: Hunter Henry (+900 DraftKings)

I'm taking Patriots tight end Hunter Henry to score the first touchdown against the Broncos in the AFC Championship.

I know this is a popular pick, and Henry has scored the most first touchdowns for the Patriots this season with six. Last scoring the first touchdown against the Chargers in the wild-card round, I'm backing the veteran tight end on Sunday.

Wide receiver DeMario Douglas has scored the second-most first tuddies this season (4), including last week against the Texans. That said, I'm sticking with Drake Maye's trajectory when it comes to scoring. While the Patriots deploy a running back committee of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, they've accounted for three first touchdowns.

Overall, this is an elite Broncos team that ranks No. 5 in defensive DVOA. And while they are favored to strike first, I'm backing the Patriots on the road.

Henry has been one of Maye's favorite targets, coming in second behind Stefon Diggs with a 19% target percentage (5.5 per game). If anything, the Broncos' defense was middle-of-the-road this season regarding opposing tight ends. In fact, they allowed the sixth-most yards to tight ends this season.

Henry has been a staple for Maye, scoring seven NFL regular-season touchdowns. The lone scorer against the Chargers,  now he gets a chance to do it again today.

Best betting predictions: Hunter Henry to score the first touchdown on Sunday

Although the Broncos haven't given up a touchdown to a tight end in three weeks, we've seen Brock Bowers, Travis Kelce, and others find success against them in the end zone.

• I'm taking Hunter Henry to score the first touchdown for the Patriots on Sunday. If you wagered $5, the payout would be $50. Bet wisely, but this is a solid prop for Sunday.

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Broncos Best First Touchdown Scorer Odds: Evan Engram (+2500 DraftKings)

This might be a long shot, but I'll throw half a unit on Broncos tight end Evan Engram to score the first touchdown on Sunday.

Engram, along with Adam Trautman, has carried the tight end duties for Denver.  And with Bo Nix under center, Engram recorded 461 receiving yards and one touchdown in 16 games. While his one touchdown came against the Eagles in Week, he's been scoreless ever since.

It's worth a shot here to sprinkle some coin on a touchdown prop with +2500 odds. If you were to wager $5, you would receive a payout of $130.

Engram wasn't much of a factor, laying an egg with seven yards on one reception against the Bills. In the final stretch of the NFL regular season, he averaged 28.5 receiving yards, 3.75 targets, and 2.5 receptions over the final four games.

Playing 47% of snaps last week, he's still involved in the offense, but how much? With Nix out for the season, Jarrett Stidham will step up as the Broncos' signal-caller. In the past, Stidham tended to throw to tight ends, and Denver may rely on the short game and its defense today.

This is even more of a long shot given that Engram hasn't scored the first touchdown all season, nor has any other Denver tight end. Hauling in 13% of targets, Engram faces a Patriots team that's somewhat struggled against tight ends. Overall, New England gave up six touchdowns to tight ends this season.

Best betting predictions: Evan Engram to score the first touchdown on Sunday

Yet to allow a tuddy to a tight end in the playoffs, New England has shown how disciplined its defense can be. Although tight ends have been scoreless the last two games, Dalton Schultz found success early with 47 receiving yards last week. Had he not suffered an injury, that stat line could've been higher.

• I'm taking Evan Engram to score the first touchdown on Sunday. A veteran—who previously played with the Giants and Jaguars—can provide consistency for Stidham. Yardage doesn't matter here; we just need a touchdown. This season, he's caught 7 of 10 targets in the red zone for 52 yards and a touchdown. 

NFL First Touchdown Scorer Predictions NFC Championship: Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks

Rams Best First Touchdown Scorer Odds: Davante Adams (+800 DraftKings)

I'm taking Rams wide receiver Davante Adams to score the first touchdown in the NFC Championship.

If the Rams are going to strike first, I like Adams here. At +800 odds, a $5 wager could pay out $45. Adams has scored the first touchdown four times this season, both occurring in Weeks 3 and 4 against the Eagles and Colts. Scoring the first touchdown in weeks 12 and 13 against the Buccaneers and Panthers, Adams is a strong option here.

It's been eight weeks since Adams scored the first touchdown–he's due. In the meantime, it's been Terrance Ferguson, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams who have taken the lead in scoring first.

This is an extremely tough matchup for Matthew Stafford and company, as the Seahawks rank first defensively. Both Williams and Ferguson scored the first touchdowns against Seattle this season, but I'm going a different route.

Overall, the Rams have scored the first touchdown in over 63% of games this season, and wide receivers are in the lead with eight touchdowns. While my mind immediately went to tight end Colby Parkinson, Adams is the play.

Adams played one game in the 21-19 loss against Seattle, in which he scored a touchdown. Let's forget the fact that he laid an egg with one receiving yard and one reception. Stafford, however, did throw four interceptions that game!

Best betting predictions: Davante Adams to score the first touchdown on Sunday

A 6-foot-1, Adams has the height advantage over Devon Witherspoon, but it's still a tough matchup. Either way, I like his chances, especially since Adams is hauling in nearly 25% of targets.

• I'm taking Davante Adams to score the first touchdown of the NFC Championship game.

Seahawks Best First Touchdown Scorer Odds: Kenneth Walker III (+440 FanDuel)

I'm taking Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III to score the first touchdown on Sunday.

In two games against the Rams this season, the Seahawks have struck first. With that, running backs Walker and Zach Charbonnet have scored the first touchdowns.

I like this spot for Walker, who should see a bulk of the workload and goal-line carries without Charbonnet. Although wide receivers have dominated the first touchdowns, running backs are a close second with six on the season.

It's apparent that Sam Darnold and the Seahawks are an offensive powerhouse, and they showed this by pouring 41 points on the 49ers last week. In addition, they elevated their offense by getting the running back more involved, something that Seattle struggled with in the past.

Scoring the first touchdown in over 72% of games this season, I'm not fading the Seahawks at home. Running backs have accounted for three of the last four first touchdowns, and Charbonnet leads the team with five. With him out, this opens the door wide open for Walker.

Best betting predictions: Kenneth Walker III to score the first touchdown on Sunday

• I like Kenneth Walker III to score the first touchdown today. While the Rams allow the fourth-fewest touchdowns to running backs, the Seattle run game has figured out the Rams' defensive scheme early on this season.