Dolphins vs. Seahawks final score, immediate reactions for Week 3

The Dolphins and Seahawks completed a penalty-filled, frustrating Week 3 game.

The Miami Dolphins traveled cross-country to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The Week 3 meeting featured a Miami team coming off a loss in Week 2 to the Buffalo Bills and without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who sustained a concussion in the Bills game. The Seahawks, starting the day 2-0, took it to the Dolphins early, then held on throughout the game before adding a late score to make it look as lopsided as it felt all day.

The dominating feature of the game was the penalty flag, with a combined 22 accepted penalties in the game. The good news was, despite the refs missing some obvious calls, the penalties evened out at 11 for each team.

This was an ugly game that needs to stress to the Dolphins coaching staff that a lot needs to change between today and next Monday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

Final Score

Dolphins 3 – 24 Seahawks

Immediate Reactions

1. What a miserable start. Not for the Dolphins, but for the refs. Linebacker Jaelan Phillips was tackled on a pass rush on the Seahawks’ first drive, just yanked to the ground and no flag was thrown. On the Dolphins’ first offensive possession, running back Jaylen Wright was pulled down on the sideline in what looked like a textbook horse collar tackle – and again no flag. Two blatant misses early in the game that could have made a difference. The Seahawks connected on a field goal on their drive, then Miami missed their field goal attempt.

2. After a Seattle touchdown and a Miami punt, the Dolphins’ defense stepped up. Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah burst through a double team on first down to create a one-yard loss on a run. After an offensive pass interference penalty, cornerback Kendall Fuller made an outstanding diving pass breakup. Then Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was grabbed by Ogbah in the endzone, with the quarterback attempting to throw the ball away only to have cornerback Kader Kohou pick off the pass. Great performance from multiple defensive players for the Dolphins. Now, the team has to respond.

3. The Dolphins’ offense looks like an offense being run by a backup quarterback. They are out of rhythm, lining up wrong, wasting time, and forcing timeouts. They have to settle down fast. They could not move the ball six yards for a touchdown, settling for a 23-yard field goal.

4. Ouch. One play was all it took for the Seahawks to respond. Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf made a great inside step to freeze safety Jevon Holland, then broke deep to be wide open for the 71-yard touchdown.

First quarter score: 17-3.

5. Miami’s drive was doomed from the start – but for a strange reason. After a 10-yard pass to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins attempted a run to the outside with running back De’Von Achane, but it sounded like a whistle blew and several players stopped including fullback Alec Ingold, who served as the lead blocked on the play. Achane was stopped for a one-yard loss and the Dolphins did not move the ball again, leading to a punt.

6. The Seahawks moved the ball effectively early in their drive, but finally stalled out after a 45-yard possession. They missed a 53-yard field goal, giving the Dolphins the ball at the 43-yard line. Instead of using the field position to add points, Miami moved the ball 18 yards, primarily on runs from Wright and Achane, before having to punt. Things are so off right now, even wide receiver Tyreek Hill is just letting balls that hit his hands fall incomplete. The Dolphins are not competing at all right now. This feels like a team going through a walkthrough, not a full-speed NFL game.

7. The rest of the half basically became a punt fest. The Dolphins had a -29 yard possession in there as they were called for penalties on four-straight snaps. The half ended with Miami attempting an untimed down due to a Seahawks penalty, but Thompson was sacked as he held the ball looking for someone to get open.

8. The positive of the first half may be the Seahawks were held scoreless in the second quarter? Silver lining.

Halftime score: Seahawks 17-3.

9. The first two possessions by each team in the second half resulted in a Dolphins punt after gaining one yard, a Seahawks punt after losing a yard, a Miami turnover on downs after gaining 24 yards, and a Seattle punt after losing three yards. This half is just brutal. Neither team can do anything.

10. Tim Boyle is now in for Skylar Thompson. Thompson was rocked on Miami’s first possession of the half, then took a hit again on the second possession and could not get back up. It appears he was holding his ribs or bracing his right arm. Boyle is in with Tyler Huntley, who is serving as the emergency quarterback, backing him up.

Third quarter score: Seahawks 17-3.

11. Okay Boyle. Start moving the offense. I like it. It is not gorgeous and it does not seem to have the explosiveness of Hill and Waddle getting deep, but it is moving. Almost far enough to score. Miami turned the ball over on downs at the Seahawks’ two-yard line. Just could not finish. So very close to getting back into this game.

12. Instead, the Seahawks went 98 yards in 11 plays to score. Miami just looks dejected at this point. They aren’t playing with any sense of passion, even on defense where they were playing so well. On their way to the endzone, Seattle ate up half the remaining clock, burning off 5:27.

13. Miami turned it over on downs after 32 yards on six plays – with 30 of those coming on a reception by Dee Eskridge, who was elevated from the practice squad for this game.

Final score: Seahawks 24-3.

Final Reactions

There is not a lot to say about this game. This was just rough from the start. The defense played well, so I guess that is a positive. But this was just an offensive slugfest to watch all game.