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It’s time for another edition of Monday Night Football, and playoff implications will be on the line when the Baltimore Ravens travel south to face off against the New Orleans Saints. The Ravens can keep sole possession of first place in the AFC North with a win, while the Saints can join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons at the top of the NFC South with an upset victory.

But we’re not worried about the final result here. Let’s aim for a juicy winner on Monday Night Football by targeting three first touchdown scorer bets for Saints-Ravens.

Lamar Jackson +900

Lamar Jackson runs with the ball against the Buccaneers.
Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens scrambles with the ball in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Lamar Jackson currently leads all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards per game (69.1), but he’s scored only two rushing touchdowns this season and hasn’t found the end zone since Week 3. I think he gets back on the board Monday night.

It’s realistic to assume that Jackson will use his legs against the Saints more than he has in any game all year. His favorite target, Mark Andrews, has been ruled out, and Gus Edwards is also doubtful to suit up. J.K. Dobbins was already ruled out after being placed on IR.

Because of all the injuries to Baltimore’s weapons, Jackson should be the focal point of the offense in both the passing game and the running game. I think he should be the favorite to score the first touchdown Monday night, so I’ll take the value with his +900 price (FanDuel).

Isaiah Likely +1000

Speaking of Ravens injuries, Isaiah Likely should be in for a huge game on Monday Night Football with Andrews sidelined. The rookie tight end balled out in his first action as the team’s No. 1 TE last week, as he caught six of his seven targets for 77 yards and a touchdown.

We know Jackson loves his tight ends, so Likely could easily lead the Ravens in targets against the Saints. If the first touchdown of the game is going to be a Baltimore passing score, I’d be surprised if it isn’t Likely on the receiving end.

Juwan Johnson +1900

Juwan Johnson is the best red zone target Andy Dalton has at his disposal. The tight end proved how unguardable he can be in the end zone with two touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7, and I think he can have a similarly successful game against a Ravens defense that’s only mediocre at stopping tight ends.

Johnson is my favorite longshot on the board at 19/1.

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Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.