The Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons will face off in NFL Preseason Week 2. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be broadcast live on NFL Network.
The Titans are 3.5-point favorites over the Falcons on the spread (Titans -3.5), with the over/under set at 37.5 total points. Tennessee is a -155 favorite to win outright, while Atlanta is +130 to pull off the upset.
The first week of the NFL preseason was relatively high scoring, all things considered. Only six teams scored 10 or fewer points, with the Falcons and Titans among them. In fact, no team scored fewer points than the Titans last week. In a game in which we know we will see the Titans’ starters on offense against a Falcons team sans Michael Penix and Kirk Cousins, Tennessee finds itself as a moderate favorite.
Let's get into my Falcons vs Titans prediction and NFL Preseason picks for Friday, August 15.
Titans vs. Falcons Odds
| Titans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -105 | 37.5 -110o / -110u | -155 |
| Falcons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -115 | 37.5 -110o / -110u | +130 |
- Titans vs. Falcons spread: Titans -3.5 (-105), Falcons +3.5 (-115)
- Titans vs. Falcons over/under: 37.5 total points (-110o / -110u)
- Titans vs. Falcons moneyline: Titans -155, Falcons +130
- Titans vs. Falcons best bet: Falcons +3.5
My Falcons vs. Titans best bet is on Atlanta to cover the spread, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. For all of your NFL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NFL odds page.
Titans vs Falcons NFL Preseason Preview, Picks
Cam Ward’s NFL debut was exciting, but short-lived. The first overall pick did nothing to cast doubt over his outlook. After an opening drive 3-and-out, Ward led a touchdown drive on his second possession.
I expect Ward to be given more opportunity to play on Friday night, but that still may not translate to many more first half drives. That second possession for the Titans ended at the 8:22 mark of the 2nd quarter. The Titans defense struggled mightily to get off of the field.
The Tennessee roster lacks depth, and that is evident to anyone who watched their 29-7 loss against Tampa Bay. Continuing with the defense, not only was tackling a problem, but gap integrity in stopping the run was not up to par either.
In total, the Titans’ defense was gashed for 178 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Sure, defensive leaders Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat didn’t play, but it is fair to expect limited action at most for both players on Friday once again.
The Buccaneers offense had just four first-half possessions with their number two quarterback, Kyle Trask, in the game, and they converted three of those drives into points. Trask finished with a 75% completion percentage and averaged 8.1 yards per attempt.
In comparison, when Ward gave way to his backups — Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle — the wheels fell off. Allen and Boyle combined to throw three interceptions and complete just 40% of their throws. Boyle was let go this week after his performance.
The Titans signed free agent QB Trevor Siemian this week to replace Boyle on their depth chart and there is a good chance he’ll see some action in this game. We last saw Siemian in the 2023 preseason with the Bengals, when he averaged just 4.9 yards per attempt, finishing with a 55.7 passer rating throughout the preseason's entirety.
If Titans’ coach Brian Callahan wants to clean up the mistakes and turnovers, he may try to give Ward and Brandon Allen the majority of snaps in this game. With that said, the offensive line still has plenty of question marks.
The Titans’ top two running backs — Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears — mustered just eight yards on seven carries (Spears was injured and will miss two weeks). The line of scrimmage remains an issue for a team that went 3-14 in the regular season a year ago.
The Falcons’ quarterback depth chart is much more secure with Easton Stick currently sitting as the teams’ third QB and the player most likely to be under center for the highest percentage of snaps for this game.
Stick has regular-season experience and was highly efficient last week, going 15-of-18 and averaging 8.3 yards per attempt with one passing touchdown.
The Falcons may have lost to the Lions 17-10, but they actually averaged more yards per play than Detroit in a contest that was ultimately cut short due to a significant injury.
Titans vs. Falcons Predictions
By all accounts, joint practices between the Falcons and Titans this week featured more of the same concerns for Tennessee that we witnessed in Tampa in their preseason opener.
Several Titans players have been quoted as saying they want to start fast against Atlanta when the game begins, but it remains to be seen if they can accomplish their goal.
Even if they do, that doesn��t necessarily mean they will be in position to cover such a large number.
If the Titans fail to jump out to an early lead with their top offensive playmakers in the game, they undoubtedly will be behind the 8-ball when it comes to covering the spread given the lack of depth on this roster.
My Pick: Falcons +3.5 (BetMGM)
Spread
I'm betting the Falcons to cover this spread.
Moneyline
I have no play on the Titans vs Falcons moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm not betting the Titans vs Falcons over/under.
My Pick: Falcons +3.5
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