The Tennessee Titans head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons tonight for Week 2 of the NFL preseason. Both teams dropped their openers, and the spotlight is squarely on quarterback rotations and depth pieces that will dominate snaps once the starters sit. Of course, the goal for each of the teams isn’t necessarily to win the game, but we’re trying to win our bets.
Kickoff is 6:00 PM ET at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium with national coverage on NFL Network. Tennessee went 3–14 last season and used their coveted #1 pick to grab Cam Ward. Atlanta also comes in off a loss but looked a bit more competitive in its opener.
The bookmakers currently have the Titans slightly favored -3 at -115 and the Falcons +3 at -105. The total is at 38.5 with Over -105 / Under -115. As for the moneyline, the Titans are at -155 with the Falcons at +135.
This number has moved since the matchup opened with the Titans -3.5 at even odds and touched -5.5 at one point when news indicated Cam Ward would start and take a few snaps before handing it over to the backups. It’s since settled back to a field goal, reflecting the typical preseason tug‑of‑war between early information and uncertainty about snap counts. That, of course, makes it difficult to lock in a solid bet, but we have to use the information at hand.
Tennessee lost 29–7 at Tampa Bay where Cam Ward did his job in just a tiny sample, going 5-of-8 for 67 yards across 2 series. The scoring drive he led ended with a Tony Pollard one‑yard plunge. After Ward sat, the wheels came off and the reserve group completed under 50% of its passes and threw 3 interceptions. That’s how a 7–7 game turned into a lopsided final.
Coaching reacted and the Titans added veteran Trevor Siemian this week to replace Tim Boyle. Siemian hasn’t logged a snap since 2022, but he’s seen every preseason look a defense can throw at a quarterback. Paired with Brandon Allen, Tennessee’s QB room behind Ward looks steadier than it did at least a week ago. That matters in August more than any star‑power headline that will command attention when September rolls around.
Atlanta’s opener was a 17–10 loss to Detroit, but the vibe was a bit different. Easton Stick was undeniably sharp as he hit 15-of-18 for 147 yards and a touchdown. He kept the offense on schedule, protected the ball well, and looked comfortable in the system. There’s no indication that veteran Kirk Cousins will play tonight, so Stick should again see the bulk of work with deep reserves finishing it off.
So, how do these pieces fit together? With Ward expected to get a short scripted run, Tennessee should have an early chance to put at least a few points on the board. Ward’s rhythm passing plus Tony Pollard in the red zone already produced once and they’re going to see if they can replicate that success. After Ward sits, the Titans can roll Allen and Siemian — 2 quarterbacks who, while limited, are capable of running a preseason offense without imploding. That’s a material upgrade from last week’s turnover‑heavy rotation. Once Ward is out, however, anything can happen.
The concern for Tennessee is the run defense. Tampa Bay gashed it and that lines up with a logical Atlanta counterpunch if Bijan Robinson gets any work after resting in Week 1. Even a couple of Robinson series can pin the Titans’ linebackers and safeties in place and set up Stick to build on his short‑area timing throws. If the Falcons’ ground game bites, Atlanta can grind long drives and shorten the game. If it doesn’t, they’ll lean on Stick again to manufacture first downs. It’ll be interesting to see how his limited series go down.
On the other side of the field, Atlanta’s secondary handled Detroit’s backups fairly well and limited explosives. That’s relevant once Ward exits, because Tennessee’s passing ceiling dips when the ball moves to Allen and Siemian. We’re expecting more underneath concepts, a quick tempo, and an emphasis on avoiding the mistakes that buried them against Tampa.
So which edge is more bankable when it comes to the bets? Atlanta’s potentially solid mid‑game offense with Stick, or Tennessee’s full‑game quarterback depth and a rookie starter who already looked comfortable? We’re leaning to the latter. Ward won’t be out there long, but his drives will undoubtedly be well scripted and efficient. If the Titans get 7 or 10 points during his limited touches, their veterans only need to play clean football to protect a lead. Last week’s turnover storm is unlikely to repeat with Siemian in the mix.
The total at 38.5 feels a touch high given last week’s results where the Titans only had 7 points and the Falcons put up 10. Preseason scoring can spike on blown coverages, but both defenses showed they can keep things in front of them against backup QBs. Tennessee’s path is methodical with Ward’s early rhythm, then mistakes‑free ball. Atlanta’s path is patient with runs, screens, manageable third downs. That script chews clock and should keep the under well within reach.
Finally, let’s circle back to the spread behavior. Bookmakers pushed this to -5.5 on Ward/usage news, then bettors pulled it back toward -3 when cooler heads remembered this is simply preseason chaos. That swing tells you the market gives Tennessee a slight power‑rating edge across the quarterback room, but also respects Atlanta’s home field and Stick’s competence. At a field goal, We’re definitely more comfortable taking the better overall QB depth and living with the variance that comes with August football.
Ward’s early series will set the tone, the Titans will avoid the back‑breaking giveaways that doomed them in Tampa, and their defense holds up once the Falcons’ starters sit. It’s a recipe for a preseason win.
Prediction: Titans 20, Falcons 13
Best Bet: Tennessee Titans moneyline at -155
This bet backs the cleaner QB rotation between Cam Ward, Brandon Allen, and Trevor Siemian over a Falcons group likely led by Easton Stick again. If you need a totals angle that matches the score call, we think Under 38.5 at -115 is a hotter bet, but the primary best bet is the Titans to win the game on the moneyline.