NFL Week 3 preview: 5 predictions for Seahawks vs. Dolphins

Good morning, Seattle Seahawks fans! We're just a few hours from kickoff of Seattle's Week 3 showdown with the Miami Dolphins. I know we didn't do a predictions post like we normally do, so I'm going to rectify that by taking it in a different direction. There will be a game pick, but with some other predictions to go along with it.

defense will force at least one turnover from Skylar Thompson

Seattle's defense recorded two interceptions off of Bo Nix (and it could've easily been five or six... hey, that rhymes!), but didn't get anything off of Jacoby Brissett. There weren't too many opportunities to intercept Brissett, and none of the sacks resulted in fumbles. Skylar Thompson has seven turnovers in 190 snaps (postseason included). He's not a particularly accurate quarterback and has a penchant for holding onto the ball too long.

It's time to be ballhawks again! Skylar's giving it away at least once, and we may be looking at a turnover-filled day if the Dolphins are forced to be a one-dimensional offense.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba will score his first touchdown of the season

The only thing JSN didn't do last week was get in the end zone. He led the team with 12 receptions and was second in yards (117) to DK Metcalf (129). Smith-Njigba's generally quiet game against the Denver Broncos did involve drawing a DPI (which is a no-play) and having a catch taken away due to a Metcalf OPI. Add in the run-heavy game script and the targets just weren't there for JSN. In a more pass-heavy script, Smith-Njigba was as involved as can be, and I expect more of the same.

It took Smith-Njigba until Week 7 to score his first touchdown of last season. He won't have to wait that long this year. I just have a hunch...

DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey will get into an on-field tussle

Rivals meet again. This is the first time Ramsey has faced Metcalf since being traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the Dolphins. Metcalf famously scored a game-winning touchdown on Ramsey in the 2022 season, but Ramsey was able to get two interceptions and shut him down in the rematch. Metcalf had the last laugh with the W, and he defended Geno Smith when Jalen Ramsey was flagged for a late hit . Back in 2021, Metcalf scored a TD on Ramsey in the "Russell Wilson broken finger" game.

There's a good chance that Ramsey will shadow DK much like Christian Gonzalez and Patrick Surtain II did the previous two games. Tensions are going to simmer and reach a boiling point one way or another. Ideally, Metcalf doesn't come away with a 15-yard penalty, but I think it's inevitable we're going to see some pleasantries exchanged between these two. Again.

The run defense will improve, but still struggle

That performance against the Patriots offensive line is aging like milk when you consider how wildly ineffective New England was against the New York Jets. Granted, the Pats shuffled the OL some more for that Jets game and that surely played a role, but the Seahawks defensive line was generally bullied in the trenches against the run.

Miami's offensive line is very dependent on the health of left tackle Terron Armstead, which is good enough for him to play but may not necessarily hold up for the whole game. With that said, the Dolphins (on paper) should be a superior OL to the Pats, and De'Von Achane is a pure speedster. Mike McDaniel is excellent with blocking schemes to generate easy yards for his backs, so if the Seahawks aren't careful with their gap integrity, spacing, and tackling, then Achane will be in for a big day. There could also be some surprises with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on jet sweeps, although surprisingly they haven't gotten many handoffs over the years. Either way, Seattle has to be prepared for Miami to attack the edges.

There's something about this run defense that is still problematic, and while I think it'll be better through Coach Macdonald's adjustments and the fact that Achane isn't powerful like Rhamondre Stevenson, there are going to be some ugly moments that will lead to explosive plays and extend drives.

The Seahawks will pull away in the 2nd half

Until further notice, I don't think the Seahawks can be trusted to destroy most teams in the NFL and leave the fourth quarter as garbage time. It's not a Pete Carroll or Mike Macdonald thing, it's a Seahawks thing. I anticipate this game being too close for comfort due to the ongoing offensive line struggles, not to mention the absence of Jerome Baker at linebacker. Boye Mafe's health is also a concern even if he plays. Miami is talented enough to keep the game competitive even sans Tua Tagovailoa.

Still, a win is a win. I see this being somewhat similar to the Broncos game, except no critical third-down conversion needed in the closing minutes. Let's go for a 27-16 victory and a 3-0 start to the season. Geno Smith throws a pair of touchdowns and Zach Charbonnet gets a short-yardage score for the other TD.