NFL Preseason Best Bets for August 15: Ground Game and Secondary Favor Seattle
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Rainman M.
- August 15, 2025
Top-rated sportsbooks have released their NFL odds for tonight’s preseason action.
Let’s lock in on both games: Titans vs. Falcons and Chiefs vs. Seahawks. For your best bets, I will recommend investing in the Falcons and Seahawks.
Tennessee Titans vs. Atlanta Falcons
Friday, August 15, 2025 – 07:00 PM EDT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Overrated Importance of Starters
In this preseason, it is apparent that the NFL odds reflect the attribution of an exaggerated level of significance to reports that starters will play.
Last week, for example, the Colts and Bengals were clear favorites against the Ravens and Eagles, respectively. Both favorites lost because the influence exercised by their starters was insufficient to decide the outcome of the game.
We have to keep reports of starters playing in perspective. Tonight, Titans starters will reportedly play a couple of series. However, they may only be there for one series.
This length of time — not to mention the fact that Tennessee’s starters are relatively awful, as they were the NFL’s worst team last year — does not justify confidence in a favored Titans team.
Overrated Titans
I really can’t say why, but oddsmakers seem to love the Titans.
For their first preseason game, they were three-point favorites in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay beat them by 22 points.
Tennessee lacks quality depth, and starters like top draft pick Cam Ward — who has exhibited issues with throwing interceptions — have growing pains to endure.
Tennessee’s Run Defense
The Titans’ run defense was heavily exploited by Tampa Bay, exercising a significant impact on the outcome of the game.
With Bijan Robinson unlikely to see the field tonight, it’s tempting to think that Atlanta’s running back crew will lack the firepower to achieve what Tampa Bay’s did.
But have you even heard of Owen Wright? This undrafted free agent out of a school most people have never heard of led Tampa Bay’s backfield with 87 yards on 4.8 YPC and a rushing touchdown.
Tennessee’s run defense obviously has major problems.
Atlanta’s Pass Attack
Against a Tennessee pass defense that allowed both Kyle Trask and Connor Bazelak to be efficient and effective passers for Tampa Bay, Atlanta’s quarterback group has a great outlook.
For the Falcons, in their first preseason game, Easton Stick and Emory Jones combined for 19-of-23 passing, 185 passing yards, and a touchdown.
While the Falcons only scored ten points, they didn’t see a lot of drives. The game was effectively called early due to a serious injury. A substantial portion of their drives ended in Detroit’s territory.
Expect them to cash in tonight against what is a very vulnerable Titans defense.
Cam Ward
Tennessee’s starting quarterback lacks the development that his Atlanta counterparts have shown. Ward is a big reason why Atlanta unequivocally won its joint practice sessions against the Titans.
His inaccuracy is a problem. Pass-blocking and wide receivers, who he needs to get more separation, aren’t helping him. Lots of hype surrounds the top draft pick, but his performance this summer reinforces Atlanta’s value at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review).
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks
Friday, August 15, 2025 – 10:00 PM EDT at Lumen Field
Starters
Reports from both coaches indicate that Seattle will demonstrate a significantly stronger commitment tonight to having its starters see the field.
Whereas we likely won’t see Patrick Mahomes or fellow star Travis Kelce for Kansas City, we likely will see Seattle’s new starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, and one of his key targets, Cooper Kupp, who is also a new arrival in Seattle.
With its new offensive coordinator, Seattle is eager to give key offensive players more game action. Expect a strong performance from Sam Darnold, who is enjoying his reunion with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
It was clear then and is clear now that Darnold’s mobility and accuracy make him compatible with Kubiak. Expect Darnold to continue building chemistry with his strong wide receiver group.
Backup Quarterbacks
The backup quarterback room ultimately favors Seattle at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Bailey Zappe is likely going to see playing time. It’s apparent that he is horrendous. Bottom-feeder New England didn’t want him, and the Chiefs could end up arriving at the same conclusion.
In Zappe’s preseason game this year, two of his seventeen pass attempts were intercepted.
Whereas Drew Lock capably leads scoring drives for Seattle and Jalen Milroe has shown that he is blatantly dangerous, Zappe will further ensure that Kansas City’s quarterback room doesn’t measure up to Seattle’s.
For Arizona, Kansas City’s first preseason opponent, Jacoby Brissett achieved a 135.9 passer rating, suggesting that Kansas City’s regular-season defensive reputation doesn’t apply in preseason games.
Conversely, it is evident in training camp that Seattle’s cornerback room has a lot of depth.
With guys like Nehemiah Pritchett practicing very well and Pro Bowler Shaquill Griffin competing for a role on the team, Seattle’s pass defense will prove superior tonight.
Running Game
In addition to being more effective through the air, Seattle will also be solid on the ground.
Kansas City’s run defense turned out to be a major weakness last season. We saw this weakness play out in its first preseason game, in which the Cardinals amassed 140 rushing yards.
Seattle doesn’t have this problem. It also doesn’t share Kansas City’s problem with getting production out of its running backs — one of KC’s quarterbacks, who ran one time for 26 yards, was his team’s leading rusher against Arizona.
The Seahawks will, for the above reasons, have no problem beating the Chiefs by more than a field goal.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
