First Touchdown Scorer Predictions for Patriots vs. Broncos: Who'll Score First?
I'm trying to strike gold with my first touchdown scorer predictions for Patriots vs. Broncos while riding with Hunter Henry, Courtland Sutton, and Marvin Mims as the long shot.
The Patriots are the -4.5 betting odds favorites heading into this clash featuring two standout defenses and a backup quarterback in Jarrett Stidham. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. ET from EmPower Field at Mile High in Denver (CBS). Let's dive into one of our conference championship predictions.
🏈 First touchdown scorer predictions: AFC Championship Game
See the latest NFL odds and our experts' NFL picks for every game this season.
| Player | Best odds | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots | +950 via Caesars | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos | +1600 via bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Marvin Mims, WR, Broncos | +2200 via bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐ |
💰 Best Patriots vs. Broncos first touchdown scorer pick: Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots (+950) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Check out all of our NFL analysis and expert predictions for every playoff game.
The Broncos are vulnerable against tight ends and have given up the ninth-most receiving yards to the position. That makes this the ideal matchup for Hunter Henry since he's also a red-zone target magnet.
He received the third-most regular-season red-zone targets among tight ends, and the sixth-most overall (22). He also sat tied for eighth with 10 looks inside the 10-yard line.
🙌 More Patriots vs. Broncos first touchdown scorer bets
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Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos (+1600) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Patriots can get exposed near the goal line, where New England produced the league's third-worst red-zone defense. That contributed to wide receivers doing plenty of scoring while notching 17 touchdowns against them (tied for the seventh-most).
Enter Courtland Sutton then, who's likely to play the leading red-zone role for Denver with Troy Franklin listed as questionable and possibly sidelined. Sutton scored three of his seven touchdowns across the final six weeks of the season.
Our Dustin Saracini is also eyeing Sutton to score in his Patriots vs. Broncos prediction.
🎊 AFC Championship Game contests
Marvin Mims, WR, Broncos (+2200) ⭐⭐⭐
Much of the same thinking applies here, though Mims is set to benefit even more from Franklin's possible absence. That was certainly the case last week for the deep-ball threat, with Mims pouncing on an opportunity when both Franklin and Pat Bryant departed, catching all eight balls thrown his way for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Those eight targets were a season high, and he's well-positioned to thrive again in a larger role.
📊 Patriots vs. Broncos first touchdown scorer odds
🔮 Patriots vs. Broncos predictions
Follow all of our NFL analysis and betting advice for the 2026 NFL playoffs.
- AFC Championship odds
- How the Patriots win the Super Bowl
- How the Broncos win the Super Bowl
- Jarrett Stidham Super Bowl MVP odds
- Jarrett Stidham compared to Nick Foles
- How do backup QBs fare in conference championship?
- Patriots vs. Broncos prediction
- Patriots vs. Broncos player props
- Patriots vs. Broncos key matchups
- Patriots vs. Broncos prediction market
- Patriots vs. Broncos anytime touchdown scorer predictions
- Patriots vs. Broncos first touchdown scorer predictions
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- Drake Maye player props
- Jarrett Stidham player props
- Patriots vs. Broncos weather report
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- AFC Championship Stats & Trends
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