Seahawks dismantle Dolphins on every side of the ball, win 24-3 to remain undefeated
By Jake Parr, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - After scraping together a close win last week on the road against the New England Patriots, the Seahawks welcomed a beleaguered Miami Dolphins team to Lumen Field today. They welcomed their visitors by shutting them down on all sides of the ball, taking a 14 point lead in the first half and cruising to victory in the second. While it was a commanding victory, it wasn’t a clean one, as both teams committed numerous penalties, combining for 22 accepted penalties (177 total yards). Even more were declined or offset. But it was Geno Smith and DK Metcalf who starred, including linking up for a 71-yard touchdown. This win will give Seattle some momentum as they head off to Detroit to take on the Detroit Lions next Monday in primetime.
The Seattle Seahawks defense was all over Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson, including this sack by linebacker Boye Mafe, in the teams 24-3 win on Sunday, September 22nd, 2024 at Lumen Field. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Imagn Images)
Defending by Attacking
Miami came to the northwest with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but he did not play. Instead, the Dolphins started Skylar Thompson, who put up a valiant effort but was no match for the Seahawks defense. The birds were relentless in their pass rush, and sacked Thompson six times -- including a huge hit from behind to end the first half by second year edge rusher Derick Hall. In the third quarter, Thompson went down hard after releasing the ball courtesy of a hit by rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight. He had already landed awkwardly on his right shoulder after being sacked by veteran linebacker Tyrel Dodson on the previous drive, but this hit proved to be too much. Thompson was replaced by third stringer Tim Boyle.
Boyle had even less success against the Seahawks defensive unit than Thompson did. It looked like he was putting a drive together in the fourth quarter. After eight plays he had gotten his squad to first and goal from the Seattle three yard line. And after two runs were stopped Boyle looked to Durham Smythe in the endzone. Smythe laid out for it and got his hands on the ball, and nearly hauled it in. But as his body hit the ground, the impact jarred the ball free and away, leaving him to grasp desperately but uselessly for it. On the following fourth and two try, Boyle overthrew the ball, turning it over and effectively ending Miami’s hopes of a miracle comeback.
Seattle’s defensive onslaught came at a cost, however, as defensive linemen Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams were both taken out of the game in the first half. Their statuses are unclear heading into Sunday evening.
Running back Zach Charbonnet shouldered the load for the Seattle Seahawks during their 24-3 win over the Miami Dolphins, rushing for 91 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday, September 22nd, 2024 at Lumen Field. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Imagn Images)
A Sprint and then a Cruise
On the other wing, Geno Smith and DK Metcalf continued to terrorize NFL defenses, linking up on four passes, resulting in 104 yards and a touchdown. But Geno shared the love with the rest of his receiving corps, including giving rookie Tight End AJ Barner his first career reception on the opening drive of the game (a six yard completion). Tyler Lockett, Noah Fant, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba each put in strong performances, averaging 9.2, 10.0, and 13.0 yards per reception respectively. Smith-Njigba especially shined, featuring a play in the fourth quarter where he hauled in a six yard pass while Miami’s Kader Kohou was jamming his fingers through Smith-Njigba’s facemask into his eyes.
It was Zach Charbonnet who had a breakout game today, filling in for Kenneth Walker III. It was Charbonnet who scored the first touchdown of the day, scoring on a 4 yard inside rush on Seattle’s second drive. He continued to pound out yards for the rest of the day, averaging 5.1 per carry. In the 4th quarter, with new head coach Mike Macdonald wanting to burn the clock, Charbonnet got a lot of attention. Using all of his athleticism and 214 pounds, Charbonnet abused the Dolphins’ defensive line, making up 42 yards himself on a single drive. And he capped that drive with a 10 yard touchdown rush, shaking off defenders like a bull shakes a rider.
It wasn’t a perfect game for Geno Smith, however. He threw two interceptions, one in the first quarter and one in the third. Both came off deflected balls, although the first was deflected by running back Zach Charbonnet, the intended receiver. The defense was able to limit the damage, though, only giving up a field goal after the first interception and making a goal line fourth down stop after the second. Those two interceptions hurt his passer rating, limiting it to a league average 86.5, not too much better than Thompson’s 82.6. This despite the fact that Geno threw for 182 more yards and averaged 2.9 more yards per attempt. Passer rating is a fickle thing.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith had a few big moments in this game, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf, but did have two mistakes as he threw two interceptions in the teams 24-3 win on Sunday, September 22nd, 2024 at Lumen Field. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Imagn Images)
A Feast of Free Yards
The most consistent throughline of the game was penalties, especially on special teams. To illustrate, let's look at a single play in the second quarter. After Thompson was sacked at the Seattle 49 on third and 11, Miami sent out the punting unit on fourth and 19. Fourth and 19 is already a bad situation, but on the first punt attempt, Seattle committed an illegal formation penalty, costing them five yards and forcing a replay. That punt attempt was also marred by a penalty, this one for unnecessary roughness, pushing the Dolphins back a further 15 yards and bringing up fourth and 39 from the Miami 23. The previous play started in Seattle territory.
Penalties were endemic to both teams, with both squads earning 11 accepted penalties each, with more being offset or declined. These penalties cost their teams a combined 177 yards. Comparing that number to last week’s game against the Patriots (in which both teams combined for nine penalties and 92 yards) reveals how inconsistent the play was today. Seattle alone surrendered 92 yards today, a number that Macdonald will be repeating often as the team prepares for their next matchup.
What’s next?
The Seahawks have started the season 3-0 for the first time since 2020, when they finished the regular season with a 12-5 record and lost to the Rams in the NFC wild card game. It is also only their second 3-0 start since their 2013 Super Bowl winning campaign. That season’s third game was also a Sunday afternoon dismantling at home of a team from Florida, as the Seahawks blew up the Jacksonville Jaguars 45-17. Whether or not you want to look at history, starting out 3-0 is undeniably a good thing, and gives a team spirit and momentum going into week four. The Seahawks are going to need that momentum to carry them through, as they don’t have a bye until week 10. Next week they head to Detroit to take on the 2-1 Lions under the bright lights of Monday Night football. In the wild the osprey typically only eats fish. Perhaps today's feast of Dolphin has given the Seahawks the taste for mammals.
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Check out our previous Seattle Seahawks articles here.
This is Jake Parr’s first article with Circling Seattle Sports, taking over as our Seahawks beat writer! Welcome him to CSS!
Photos in this article by Kevin Ng, on assignment for Imagn Images. Check out his work with Circling Seattle Sports here!
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