First Touchdown Scorer Predictions for Thursday Night Football: Cowboys vs. Lions TD Picks

My Cowboys vs. Lions first touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football are focusing on Jameson Williams, George Pickens, and long-shot Ross Dwelley as part of my NFL predictions for Week 14.

We'll be looking to cash in while pegging the opening scorer ahead of a pivotal clash between the rising Cowboys, who have won three straight games, and the Detroit Lions, who are the -3 favorites. A likely shootout is getting a sky-high total of 54.5, and the fireworks will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET from Ford Field in Detroit.

First touchdown scorer predictions: Cowboys vs. Lions

See all of our experts' NFL picks for Week 14 based on the latest NFL odds.

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Jameson Williams, WR, Lions (+800) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amon-Ra St. Brown is listed as questionable for the Lions heading into Thursday night, though he seems very much on the pessimistic side of that tag after not practicing this week due to an ankle injury.

That leads to a dynamite-infused opportunity for Williams, who was already rising up swiftly while in St. Brown's shadow. The speed merchant has scored five times across his last seven games, a run that includes 119 receiving yards in Week 10, and erupting for a career single-game high 144 yards last week.

Brown's absence played a role in the latter outburst, and it would again tonight.

Williams is worthy of more opportunities even when Brown is healthy, and he's a top-tier field-stretcher averaging 18.6 yards per grab. But with Brown either out or likely limited at best, Williams is stepping into the role of a wideout who sits sixth in targets (108). More importantly for our purposes here, Brown is also tied for fourth in red-zone targets (19), and he's third in looks inside the 10-yard line (12). 

Combine that with Williams facing an improving though still highly vulnerable Cowboys secondary giving up 251.5 yards per game (30th), and there's high potential for a detonation from him tonight that starts early.

If Williams keeps sizzling and scores first, a $10 wager on him using these +800 betting odds from Caesars would translate to an $80 profit, with an implied probability of 11.11%.

Our Esten McLaren is looking elsewhere on the Lions' wide receiver depth chart in his anytime touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football.

George Pickens, WR, Cowboys (+1000) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's hard to pass on Pickens if there are four digits in the odds column beside him at any of the best sports betting sites. I won't try to resist.

He's incredibly produced four games with 130-plus receiving yards this season, two of which have come over his past three outings. During that latter stretch he's also scored two of his eight touchdowns while averaging 126 yards per game and 15.8 per reception. He's tallied 24 catches over that span too, all on a skyscraper-high target volume that's been at 9-plus for five consecutive games.

The wideout's silky smooth hands have led to a catch rate of 69.5%, which is a career best and far above his 57.3% last year. He takes all that success now against a Lions defense that's allowed the second-most touchdowns to wide receivers (19).

If Pickens keeps riding high and opens the touchdown festivities tonight, a $10 bet on him would lead to a $100 profit through the appealing +1000 betting odds from FanDuel, with an implied probability of 9.09%.

Gary Pearson is eyeing Pickens too in his Cowboys vs. Lions prediction.

Ross Dwelley, TE, Lions (+2700) ⭐⭐⭐

This is less about the player than it is the opportunity and matchup. That's often the case when we go long-shot shopping in this market, but especially this time.

Ross Dwelley has reached journeyman status, and he's primarily used as a blocking tight end, resulting in merely five receptions across his past three seasons. That's contributing to his lengthy odds, but the juicy prices are appealing nonetheless because Dwelley is nearly the last man standing on the Lions' tight end depth chart tonight.

Standout Sam LaPorta's season is likely over, and the Lions have also ruled out Brock Wright, and even depth piece Shane Zylstra. That leaves Dwelley to likely receive the bulk of the targets at the tight end position tonight, leading to value against a weak Dallas defense tied for the seventh-most catches allowed to TEs this season.

If Dwelley can come through as a long shot for us at these +2700 betting odds from FanDuel, a $10 wager would pay out $270, with an implied probability of 3.57%.

Our Matt Jacob is backing Dwelley's quarterback in his Cowboys vs. Lions player props.

First touchdown scorer odds: Cowboys vs. Lions

See all of our NFL touchdown props for Thursday Night Football and more.

How to watch Thursday Night Football: Cowboys vs. Lions

• Date: Thursday, Dec. 4
• Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
• Location: Ford Field (Detroit)
• TV: Prime Video