Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs Picks and Prediction for Friday August 28, 2026

The Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs wrap up their 2026 preseason schedules Friday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT), with the game available through ESPN Unlimited and local broadcasts. Both teams enter the finale 0-2, making this a matchup between clubs still searching for their first exhibition victory. Let us help you find winners with our free NFL picks.

The betting market has Kansas City as a slight home favorite. Current numbers show the Chiefs -1.5, with Kansas City around -127 on the moneyline and Seattle around +106. The total is sitting at 36.5.

Seahawks Have Shown More Than Their 0-2 Record Suggests

Seattle comes into the preseason finale following a 19-16 loss at Tennessee on Sunday night. The final score doesn't tell the entire story because the Seahawks produced an excellent opening quarter behind their second-team offense. Seattle jumped ahead 16-3 before Tennessee eventually worked its way back into the game.

Drew Lock was particularly impressive. Seattle's backup quarterback helped the Seahawks score two touchdowns and a field goal in the first quarter while working against Tennessee's starting defense. For preseason handicapping purposes, that's significant. Quarterback depth is one of the biggest variables in these games, especially once established starters leave or don't play at all.

The problem was maintaining that performance. Seattle failed to score after its 16-point opening quarter, allowing Tennessee to rally for the three-point victory. The Seahawks are consequently 0-2 despite having stretches in which their reserves have looked capable.

There are also depth concerns entering the finale. Mason Richman, Bud Clark and Jake Bobo have landed on injured reserve, while Rodney Thomas II is listed as questionable. Those losses matter more in a preseason finale than they ordinarily might because Friday's game should feature plenty of players from the lower portions of the depth chart.

Still, Seattle's offensive showing with Lock against Tennessee gives the Seahawks a legitimate chance to leave Kansas City with a win.

Chiefs Looking to Finish the Preseason on a Positive Note

Kansas City is also 0-2 after falling 16-15 to Tampa Bay on Saturday. The Chiefs controlled much of that game and carried a 9-0 lead into halftime, but Tampa Bay rallied during the second half.

Kansas City's offense has struggled to turn drives into touchdowns. Against Tampa Bay, the Chiefs leaned heavily on their kicking game, with Harrison Butker connecting on three first-half field goals, including a 69-yarder. Kansas City ultimately scored only 15 points, continuing what has been a relatively modest offensive preseason.

The quarterback situation is another important handicapping factor. Patrick Mahomes has been carefully managed throughout the preseason while returning from his knee injury. With the regular season approaching, there is little reason for the Chiefs to expose their franchise quarterback unnecessarily in the preseason finale.

Kansas City also has several injury situations worth monitoring. Kenneth Walker III is listed as questionable with a foot issue, while Tyreke Smith and Alohi Gilman are also questionable. Walker's situation is especially noteworthy because the former Seahawk would otherwise have an interesting opportunity to face his old team.

The Chiefs do have the advantage of playing at Arrowhead, and their defense has done enough to keep both preseason games manageable. Kansas City lost by only one point to Tampa Bay, so this isn't a team being overwhelmed once the reserves enter.

Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs Picks and Prediction

Pick: Seattle Seahawks +1.5

I'm taking Seattle +1.5.

This is essentially a pick'em, and the quarterback depth makes Seattle attractive. Lock looked sharp against Tennessee's first-team defense, helping Seattle race to a 16-3 advantage. In a preseason finale where backup quarterbacks and roster-bubble players should determine much of the outcome, having a veteran quarterback capable of moving an offense is valuable.

Kansas City's offense hasn't shown enough for me to comfortably lay points. The Chiefs managed 15 against Tampa Bay and required five field goals to get there. With Mahomes unlikely to be exposed unnecessarily and several Kansas City players dealing with injuries, Seattle has a realistic path to winning outright.

The Seahawks don't necessarily have to win for this wager to cash, either. In a game with a spread this small and a total of only 36.5, getting the points has some value.

Take the Seattle Seahawks +1.5.

Pick: Under 36.5

Under 36.5 is my total pick.

Kansas City's first two preseason games have produced modest offensive results, and the Chiefs scored only 15 points against Tampa Bay despite receiving excellent production from their kicker. Seattle scored 16 against Tennessee but all 16 came during the first quarter. The Seahawks went scoreless over the remaining three quarters.

That creates a matchup in which both offenses have demonstrated the ability to stall for lengthy stretches. Once Friday moves deeper into the second half and roster-bubble players take over, sustained touchdown drives could become even harder to manufacture.

The 36.5 number is low, but I still see slightly more value underneath it. A game played largely between reserves, with Kansas City protecting important players and Seattle dealing with several depth injuries, has the ingredients for another low-scoring preseason contest.

I'm projecting something close to Seattle 19, Kansas City 16, which gives us 35 combined points.

Take Under 36.5.

Projected Score: Seattle Seahawks 19, Kansas City Chiefs 16.