The first Monday Night Football game of the season between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons is one of the most hotly debated games amongst handicappers. What's also up for debate is who is going to score the first touchdown, as there are a ton of options on either side.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
DeMarco Murray scored 13 rushing touchdowns last season for the Cowboys. Julio Jones found pay dirt six times for the Falcons, but he has a history of being a double-digit touchdown type of player. Clearly, they are going to be the two favorites to score the first touchdown in this one, knowing that the Falcons don't have a go-to running back situation down by the goal line.
The Eagles meanwhile, are playing against a team with one of the worst defensive lines in the NFL. They had a total of 15 rushing touchdowns last season, and they could be in for more in this game as well.
However, the price on Murray certainly isn't going to be justified when he is something like the 3 to 1 favorite to score the first touchdown. Instead, we prefer some of these lesser-heralded players to get in the end zone first.
NELSON AGHOLOR
Quick! Name an Eagles receiver this season! It's tough to do if you don't think about it, isn't it? Jordan Matthews did have eight touchdowns last season, and he is a very good candidate to score first in this game, too, but Nelson Agholor has been a very popular target in the preseason in the Philadelphia passing game.
Chip Kelly knows all about Agholor when he coached against him in the Pac-12, and the USC man has a big body and knows how to use it. He's a sneaky pick for 10 touchdowns this season, and just that fact alone has us thinking Kelly might try to get him in the end zone early and often.
DARREN SPROLES
You wouldn't know it, but Sproles actually led the Eagles in rushing touchdowns last season, not LeSean McCoy. Sure, Sproles only had six scores, and yes, the backfield for the Eagles is crowded with both Murray and Ryan Mathews a part of it, but Sproles will still have his place. The tiny back is going to return punts this year once again for the Eagles too, and after two punt return TDs last season to go with his six rushing scores, he legitimately will have some chances to be the first touchdown scorer in this one, too.
RODDY WHITE
Remember Hot Rod? He sort of fell off the face of the earth a bit last season, but 80 catches, 921 yards and seven receiving touchdowns is nothing to scoff at. White is hurting coming into the season thanks to an elbow issue, but by all accounts, he is ready and raring to go.
The Eagles' secondary is completely revamped, and we're not all that sure how it is going to come together. What we are sure of though, is that Jones is going to be the man who is focused in on first and foremost by these corners and safeties.
Outside of one dud of a season in 2013, White has had at least seven touchdowns in every season for the Falcons since 2008. There's no reason for him to stop that this year, especially with no other real options to throw out there with Jones on the opposite side of the field. Tony Gonzalez isn't here to pilfer touchdowns any longer, and Matt Ryan has to get the ball somewhere. Why not Hot Rod? At a price of over 10 to 1 in all likelihood to score first, you could do far, far worse.
BookMaker opened the spread for this Monday soiree at -1 in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL odds total surfaced at 53. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2015, at 7:10 p.m. ET at the Georgia Dome. The game will be broadcast regionally on ESPN.
