Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs prediction and odds

One quarterback is getting four quarters by design. The other may get them by necessity.

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald plans to let Jalen Milroe play the entire preseason finale. Kansas City will start rookie Garrett Nussmeier, who could also go the distance with Chris Oladokun in concussion protocol and Justin Fields held in reserve.

That makes this more than another August game between two 0–2 teams. Seattle wants to see whether Milroe can command an offense after a difficult second half against Tennessee. Kansas City has handed Nussmeier a long audition after only two preseason appearances.

The established stars should mostly watch. The quarterbacks trying to define their place behind them will carry the night.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs game snapshot

• Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
• Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Competition: NFL
• Home team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Seattle Seahawks win: 50%
• Kansas City Chiefs win: 51%

Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs prediction

Kansas City is favored by the smallest possible margin. Home advantage offers one reason, but the deeper explanation may be uncertainty: neither team is expected to use its established starting quarterback, and both offenses will spend much of the night in the hands of developing players.

Seattle has already shown that its reserves can trouble stronger personnel. Drew Lock led the second-team offense to a 16–3 first-quarter advantage against Tennessee's starters last Sunday.

The Seahawks then lost control after halftime, when Milroe threw two interceptions and Tennessee recovered to win 19–16.

Friday gives Milroe the full game instead of asking him to enter midway through it. His mobility can change the shape of a drive, especially when protection breaks down, but Seattle needs more than isolated runs and deep throws.

The bigger test is whether he can stay patient after a mistake and keep the offense on schedule.

Nussmeier faces a similar examination from the other sideline. The seventh-round rookie has shown enough arm talent and command to earn first-team practice reps, although Kansas City has scored only 27 points across two preseason losses.

A near-even market fits a game in which both quarterbacks have an opportunity and neither comes with much certainty.

Market data as of August 28, 2026. For the latest market-implied probability, check the OG app.

Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs odds

• Seattle Seahawks win: 50%
• Kansas City Chiefs win: 51%

Prediction markets currently see little between the teams. Preseason prices can react quickly to playing-time decisions, which makes this game a useful example of how new information can affect football prediction markets.

Kansas City's home status provides a modest edge; Seattle's clearer plan for Milroe pulls the game back toward even.

Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs game outlook

Seattle's offense will belong to Milroe. Macdonald has confirmed that the second-year quarterback will play the whole game, with Drew Lock available if circumstances demand a change. Sam Darnold and the established starters are expected to remain out.

That should give Seattle a different rhythm from its first two preseason games. Milroe will not have to inherit somebody else's game plan at halftime or chase a score with the bottom of the roster around him. He can settle into the opening script, use his legs when the pocket opens and show whether his passing decisions improve as the game moves away from rehearsed plays.

The run game can help. Jacardia Wright broke a 69-yard touchdown against Tennessee and finished with 81 rushing yards on eight carries.

Another productive night on early downs would keep Milroe away from obvious passing situations and allow Seattle to use the option threat that makes him difficult to defend.

Kansas City will ask Nussmeier to solve a Seattle reserve defense that looked much sharper last weekend. Connor O'Toole recorded 1.5 of the Seahawks' three sacks, while Chazz Surratt forced a fumble chasing down Cam Ward.

Kansas City tackle Josh Simmons will miss the game with a back issue, placing more pressure on a young offensive line that has already been moved around during the preseason.

Nussmeier is a more conventional pocket passer than Milroe. He completed 13 of 19 attempts for 98 yards against the Los Angeles Rams, then went 9 of 17 for 74 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Those numbers are modest, but Andy Reid praised his leadership and tempo after giving him practice work with the first group.

Seattle's problem has been sustaining its best football. The Seahawks led Tennessee 16–3 after one quarter, then failed to score again. Fourteen penalties for 129 yards, two interceptions and several special-teams mistakes gradually undid everything they had built.

Those football penalties are especially damaging for a young quarterback who is already being asked to recover from difficult down-and-distance situations.

Kansas City has struggled to finish drives too. Its two defeats have come by eight points and one point, and the offense has yet to produce a convincing full game. If Nussmeier protects the ball and handles Seattle's pressure, the Chiefs should be able to keep the game in the controlled, low-margin shape suggested by the market. If Milroe begins creating second chances with his legs, that shape may not last.

Team news and injuries

Seattle Seahawks

Milroe is expected to start and play the entire game. Macdonald said Lock will be ready, but the intention is to give Milroe a complete night. Seattle's established starters and top veterans are again expected to rest.

The Seahawks placed rookie safety Bud Clark and offensive lineman Mason Richman on injured reserve after both suffered significant injuries against Tennessee.

Clark broke his ankle on Seattle's first defensive snap, while Richman sustained a long-term injury in the opening quarter. Receiver Jake Bobo is also on injured reserve after hurting his knee during the team's joint practice with Tennessee.

Seattle responded by signing tackle Derrick Graham, safety Tysheem Johnson and running back Justin Jones. Graham adds immediate depth to an offensive line that must protect Milroe for four quarters.

Kansas City Chiefs

Nussmeier will start. Oladokun remains in concussion protocol, creating the possibility that the rookie plays the full game. Fields has been told to remain ready if Kansas City needs another quarterback.

Patrick Mahomes will not play as he continues working back from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season. Kansas City has also ruled out Simmons with a back problem, Oladokun, defensive end Ashton Gillotte and several other players. Running back Kenneth Walker III will sit after experiencing ankle swelling, although Reid said the issue is not considered serious.

The Chiefs were still evaluating whether receivers Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice would play. Both practiced during the week, but their availability had not been confirmed when the market prices were captured.

Key factors that could decide Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs

Can Jalen Milroe protect the ball for four quarters?

Milroe's two interceptions against Tennessee came after Seattle had built a 16–3 lead. He now has time to respond within the same game rather than waiting another week. The athletic plays will come. Seattle will be watching what happens on the ordinary snaps between them.

Will Seattle's run game keep Milroe out of third-and-long?

Wright's 69-yard touchdown showed the explosive possibility, but Seattle also needs repeatable gains. A dependable run game would slow Kansas City's pass rush and give Milroe manageable reads. If the Seahawks repeatedly fall behind the chains, his full-game audition becomes much harder.

Can Garrett Nussmeier handle Seattle's reserve pressure?

O'Toole, Surratt and the rest of Seattle's young front disrupted Tennessee after producing no sacks in the opener. Simmons' absence removes one option from Kansas City's line. Nussmeier will need to recognize pressure quickly and avoid holding the ball while waiting for a bigger play.

Which quarterback responds better when the opening script ends?

Both should begin with plays chosen to make them comfortable. The more revealing snaps will arrive later, when penalties, sacks or negative runs create second-and-long and third-and-long. Milroe has more experience and greater rushing ability. Nussmeier has spent the week running Kansas City's first-team offense.

Can Seattle clean up its penalties and special teams?

Seattle gave away 129 yards through penalties against Tennessee, muffed a punt and missed both an extra point and a field goal. A young offense cannot keep overcoming that kind of field-position damage. Kansas City does not need to dominate if Seattle continues giving away possessions and yards.

What could move Seattle Seahawks vs Kansas City Chiefs odds?

Kansas City's final quarterback plan is the clearest source of late movement. Nussmeier could play the entire game, but Fields remains available. Confirmation of how Reid intends to divide those snaps would give the market a better idea of the Chiefs' offensive floor.

The availability of Worthy and Rice could matter too. Even limited work for either receiver would strengthen Nussmeier's supporting cast.

Seattle's plan at quarterback is clearer, but any late decision to give Milroe more established offensive players — or to rest additional reserves already considered safe — could change the balance around him.

Important information

Prediction is an event contract that is a derivatives product offered by North American Derivatives Exchange, Inc. (NADEX), a CFTC-regulated exchange, which does business under the brand OG.com Prediction Markets (OG). Crypto.com | Derivatives North America uses a CFTC-regulated exchange that uses OG.com technology.

Trading on OG.com involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. By trading you risk losing your cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on OG.com is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk.