Seahawks beat Dolphins 24-3, now 3-0 on the season

The Seahawks needed overtime to beat the Patriots in Week 2, but no overtime was needed against this week’s AFC East opponent.

Zach Charbonnet ran for two touchdowns and the Seahawks defense overwhelmed the Tua Tagovailoa-less Dolphins in a 24-3 home win. The Seahawks are now 3-0 for the first time since they started the 2020 season with five straight victories.

To match that start, a win in Detroit next Monday night is needed and their showdown with the Lions will be one of the top games of Week 4.

Charbonnet’s second touchdown came with just under five minutes left in the game, ending a long scoreless drought for both teams. Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf scored a 71-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter to make it 17-3 for the Seahawks, and both teams struggled offensively in the interim.

The Dolphins struggled throughout the game, and their quarterback situation was made worse when Skylar Thompson left the game with a pectoral injury. Thompson appeared overwhelmed in his first start since the 2022 season, recording five sacks before being knocked out of the game in the third quarter. Tim Boyle replaced him and brought the Dolphins into Seattle territory on a couple of occasions, but the Seahawks seemed content to bow out while holding a commanding lead over their visitors.

Miami also plays next Monday night, but their matchup with the 0-3 Titans is a little less enticing. If Thompson is unable to play, Miami’s quarterback options will be either Boyle or Tyler Huntley. Neither player was on the team or practice squad prior to the 53-man cut, and Huntley has been on the roster for less than a week. Based on how Thompson played before the injury, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is going to have a tough time either way.

The Seahawks will have to be sharper on offense, as Geno Smith threw two interceptions and had three three-and-outs in the second and third quarters, but Charbonnet was effective in place of Kenneth Walker and Smith still threw for 289 yards when his throws went to the right people. The Lions will be less forgiving of mistakes, but Mike Macdonald’s team has shown it can win in different ways through the first three weeks of the season.