The Miami Dolphins (1-1) would have a heavy lift against any team in Week 3 considering they’re without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
But their margin for error is near zero against the 2-0 Seattle Seahawks after a cross-continental flight in one of the loudest road stadiums in all of pro sports.
Miami Dolphins-Seattle Seahawks Game Preview
Last Time Out
The Dolphins lost their quarterback and their command of the AFC East in their 31-10 prime-time shellacking at the hands of the Buffalo Bills. Mike McDaniel’s offense committed three turnovers and turned the ball over on downs four times in the loss.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, rallied past the New England Patriots in Week 2 to win 23-20 in overtime and remain undefeated on the young season. Geno Smith completed 33 of 44 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown in the victory. Seattle won despite averaging 2.4 yards per carry.
Key Injuries
Tagovailoa is out indefinitely after suffering his fourth diagnosed concussion in the Bills game. As a result, Skylar Thompson (career 63.5 passer rating) will start at quarterback on Sunday.
The Dolphins also have injury concerns regarding OT Terron Armstead (shoulder) and RBs Raheem Mostert (chest) and Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique).
Four Seahawks players were unavailable for Week 2: RB Kenneth Walker III, OT George Fant, TE Pharaoh Brown, and OLB Uchenna Nwosu. Two others left the Patriots game and did not return with seemingly minor injuries: LBs Jerome Baker (hamstring) and Boye Mafe (knee).
Familiar Faces
Seattle and Miami essentially traded off-ball linebackers this offseason.
The Dolphins cut Baker so they could sign Jordyn Brooks away from the Seahawks. Baker then signed with Seattle as a free agent.
Center Connor Williams also changed teams this offseason, going from Miami to Seattle after recovering from a significant knee injury that ended his 2023 season.
But the most intriguing reunion/matchup Sunday? New Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald vs. new Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Macdonald was the Ravens’ DC the previous two years, and Weaver — who coached Baltimore’s defensive line during that time — is running a very similar system in Miami.
Series History
This is the 17th time the Dolphins and Seahawks have met but just the fifth in the last two decades.
Miami leads the all-time series 10-6 but has lost each of the last two meetings, including a 31-23 home defeat in 2020. The Dolphins are 3-3 all-time in Seattle.
Betting Lines
The Seahawks, as of Tuesday morning, were five-point home favorites in Week 3, with a -218 moneyline. The Dolphins are +180 to win. The over/under is set at 41.5.
The Dolphins have covered six of their past seven road September games (covering by an average of four points). Smith is 0-2-2 against the spread in his past four starts as a home favorite — all four of those games have gone over the projected total (average over margin: 8.3 points per game).
Dolphins vs. Seahawks Stats and Rankings
Offense
Dolphins
Scoring: 15 (t-27th)
Yards: 375.5 (eighth)
Yards per play: 5.4 (17th)
Rushing: 110
Yards per carry: 3.7 (24th)
Passing: 265.5 (first)
Yards per pass: 7 (11th)
Interception rate: 2.9% (21st)
Sacks per pass attempt: 6.6% (12th)
Turnover differential: -2 (t-24th)
First downs: 19 (11th)
EPA per play: -.134 (26th)
Success rate: 42.2% (21st)
Dropback EPA: -.090 (24th)
Rush EPA: -.202 (25th)
Seahawks
Scoring: 24.5 (t-ninth)
Yards: 331 (13th)
Yards per play: 5.3 (19th)
Rushing: 96 (23rd)
Yards per carry: 3.7 (27th)
Passing: 235 (sixth)
Yards per pass: 6.8 (13th)
Interception rate: 1.5% (11th)
Sacks per pass attempt: 7.3% (13th)
First downs: 18.5 (t-13th)
Turnover differential: +1 (t-ninth)
EPA per play: .007 (16th)
Success rate: 47.3% (eighth)
Dropback EPA: .131 (ninth)
Rush EPA: -.223 (28th)
Defense
Dolphins
Scoring: 24 (t-23rd)
Yards: 257 (fourth)
Yards per play: 5.4 (19th)
Rushing: 118 (15th)
Yards per carry: 4.5 (17th)
Passing: 139 (fifth)
Yards per pass: 7 (23rd)
Interception rate: 0% (t-24th)
Sacks per pass attempt: 7.5% (18th)
First downs: 15 (fifth)
EPA per play: .051 (25th)
Success rate: 42.1% (16th)
Dropback EPA: .364 (31st)
Rush EPA: -.255 (sixth)
Seahawks
Scoring: 20 (t-12th)
Yards: 270.5 (sixth)
Yards per play: 4 (second)
Rushing: 142 (t-21st)
Yards per carry: 4.7 (19th)
Passing: 128.5 (t-second)
Yards per pass: 3.7 (first)
Interception rate: 2.9% (14th)
Sacks per pass attempt: 7.3% (19th)
First downs: 16 (10th)
EPA per play: -.132 (seventh)
Success rate: 35.8% (third)
Dropback EPA: -.191 (fifth)
Rush EPA: -.043 (20th)
Projected Dolphins vs. Seahawks Starting Lineups
Dolphins
Quarterback: Skylar Thompson
Wide receiver: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle
Running back/fullback: De’Von Achane, Alec Ingold
Tight end: Durham Smythe
Offensive line (left to right): Terron Armstead, Robert Jones, Aaron Brewer, Liam Eichenberg, Austin Jackson
Defensive line: Zach Sieler, Benito Jones, Calais Campbell
Linebacker: David Long Jr., Jordyn Brooks, Emmanuel Ogbah, Jaelan Phillips
Defensive backs: Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller, Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer
Seahawks
Quarterback: Geno Smith
Wide receiver: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Running back/fullback: Zach Charbonnet
Tight end: Noah Fant
Offensive line (left to right): Charles Cross, Laken Tomlinson, Connor Williams, Anthony Bradford, George Fant
Defensive line: Leonard Williams, Johnathan Hankins, Jarran Reed
Linebacker: Dre’Mont Jones, Tyrel Dodson, Jerome Baker, Uchenna Nwosu
Defensive backs: Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Rayshawn Jenkins, Julian Love
What They’re Saying
LB Jordyn Brooks
“I spent my first four years there. It was a good thing for me, but it’ll be good to go back and get to play against those guys. I think it will be a great opportunity for me. … A lot of the guys on defense that I played with, a lot of the younger guys. It will be good to see them and then compete against them.”