For the first time in four years, the Seattle Seahawks hope to get out to a perfect start. Both a road overtime triumph over the Patriots and a home victory over the Broncos have started head coach Mike Macdonald’s first season in charge.
QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered his third concussion in two seasons during Miami’s 21-point home loss to Buffalo. After being placed on injured reserve, Skylar Thompson will start in his stead as the Dolphins travel to Lumen Field, a notoriously difficult environment.
NFL Week 3 Dolphins vs. Seahawks odds
For the third week in a row, Seattle is favored by 4.5 points when playing a favorable matchup against an opponent quarterback.
Miami is positioned as an intriguing play by the moneyline. Although this is only Thompson’s fourth career start (including one in the playoffs), he still has a lot of weapons at his disposal, and in the first two weeks, Seattle faced teams with far less offensive talent.
We apparently won’t receive the high-scoring match we may have if Tagovailoa had been playing, as we finished with a total of 41.5. All of the odds have clearly been impacted by his absence.
Why the Seahawks could win as the favorite
Leading a game-winning drive in overtime that culminated in a 31-yard field goal from Jason Myers, Seattle quarterback Geno Smith was instrumental in the team’s victory over New England in Week 2. He passed to wide receiver DK Metcalf for 327 yards and a touchdown of 56 yards, completing a career-high 33 passes on 44 attempts (75 percent).
Without its primary quarterback, Seattle’s third-ranked pass defense might contain the injured Miami offense. If Smith spends a lot of time on the field and the Seahawks exploit some advantageous field location, he might be able to successfully attack the Dolphins defense.
Smith can also pose a threat to the Miami secondary by frequently striking wide receivers Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but Metcalf will see a lot of CB Jalen Ramsey. In Week 2, JSN had a standout performance with 12 receptions for 117 yards.
For the third week in a row, running back Zach Charbonnet wants to score a touchdown from scrimmage. Last week, the Dolphins let Buffalo’s James Cook gallop for two touchdowns and grab a touchdown pass. Smith may be able to use some crucial play-action strikes to further test the Miami pass defense if Charbonnet plays well.
In crucial scenarios, the Seahawks secondary might be able to handle the Dolphins wide receivers. Two weeks later, second-year CB Devon Witherspoon is ranked eleventh by Pro Football Focus, while Riq Woolen is the highest-rated CB. Compared to the previous two weeks, both players have done well against stronger opposing passing assaults.
Why the Dolphins could win as the underdog
Consider Miami on the moneyline if you think that running back De Von Achane can help the Dolphins get over losing their top quarterback. Thompson’s running and pass-catching pressure can be significantly reduced by the dynamic second-year running back.
Achane snagged a touchdown pass and finished Week 2 with 165 scrimmage yards, the third-highest total in the league, while Raheem Mostert was absent. In his last four games overall, he has found the end zone every time. Last week, Seattle let Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson gallop for a total of 177 yards.
Mostert, who has scored scrimmage touchdowns in five of his last six games, is the only player who could strengthen the Dolphins backfield. Miami may control the clock and limit Seattle’s possessions if the game plan mainly relies on the running backs.
Tyreek Hill has the ability to lead his team to victory with some game-changing plays, regardless of who is covering him or at quarterback. Including the playoffs, he has scored a receiving touchdown in three of his last four games.
The new tight end for the Dolphins, Jonnu Smith, is one cunning player to watch. Hunter Henry had a career day with eight receptions for 109 yards last week thanks to the Seahawks. Last week, Smith recorded six catches, tying a career high. In some crucial circumstances, Thompson might be able to depend on his TE.
Dolphins vs. Seahawks prediction and best bet
Pick: Over 41.5 points (FanDuel Sportsbook odds of -105)
Even without Tagovailoa on the field, I envision these teams easily surpassing the predicted total, therefore the over is my preferred wager. Both teams have far too many playmakers, and the defenders may be overworked in the closing minutes.
Achane at +100 is one guy prop that I would take into consideration as an anytime TD scorer. Hill is located at +160. According to this scouting report, Jonnu Smith is a good target at +600.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
