One of the most obnoxious reactions to a positive statement about the Seahawks is, “Yeah, but…” The Seahawks are 3-0! Yeah, but who did they play? The Seahawks are one of only two undefeated teams in the NFC! Yeah, but look at the quarterbacks they’ve faced. The Seahawks defense is doing things they have not done in a decade. Yeah, but they did good things before and then they fell apart. There are generally two primary reasons the Yeah Buts react the way they do. Either they are guarding their hearts from feeling hope that can lead to disappointment, or they have prior predictions about the team being bad and do not want to admit they were wrong. It is true that little can be proven in three games against the teams the Seahawks have faced. It is true that their first real shot at earning respect will come in Detroit on Monday Night Football. Choosing to wait for proof that your team is good is a tortured way to approach an NFL season. Every single week is a test. Seattle is one of a select few who have passed every test so far. Get off your Yeah Butts and enjoy it.
Miami came to Seattle missing their starter at quarterback. They left without their backup after Skylar Thompson was knocked out of the game. This Dolphins offense had been struggling even with their starter so far this season, and it was wholly ineffective against this physical and fast Seahawks defense. There are reasons to diminish the performance by Seattle. Here are some reasons to enjoy it.
This is a selection of games the Seahawks played against current or former backups:
- 2023
- Week 3 vs CAR: Andy Dalton, 361 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT (27 points)
- Week 10 vs WAS: Sam Howell, 312 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT (26 points)
- Week 17 vs PIT: Mason Rudolph, 274 yards, 112.2 rating (30 points)
- 2022
- Week 17 vs DET: Tim Boyle, 262 yards, 2 TD, (29 points)
- Week 16 vs CHI: Nick Foles, 250 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT (24 points)
- Week 14 at HOU: Davis Mills, 331 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT (13 points)
- Week 11 vs ARZ: Colt McCoy, 328 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT (23 points)
- 2021
- Week 17 at SF: C.J. Beathard, 273 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT (23 points)
- Week 15 at WAS: Dwayne Haskins, 295 yards, 1 TD, (15 points)
- 2019
- Week 15 at CAR: Kyle Allen, 277 yards, 1 TD, (24 points)
- Week 8 at ATL: Matt Schaub, 460 yards, 1 TD (20 points)
- 2018
- Week 15 at SF: Nick Mullens, 275 yards, 1 TD (26 points)
- Week 13 vs SF: Nick Mullens, 414 yards, 2 TD (16 points)
- Week 1 at DEN: Case Keenum, 329 yards, 3 TD (27 points)
- 2017
- Week 14 at JAX: Blake Bortles, 268 yards, 2 TD (30 points)
- Week 10 at ARZ: Drew Stanton, 273 yards, 1 TD (16 points)
That is but a small sample of what has been a painful history of making backup quarterbacks look like superstars, including the guy who replaced Thompson for Miami.
Outside of a solid first half from Jacoby Brissett during a 10AM road game, the Seahawks defense is suffocating these paltry passers. There is no shame in making a backup look like a backup.
A week after holding the Patriots wide receivers to less than 20 yards receiving, the Seahawks secondary held Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to 68 yards on 7 receptions for less than 10 yards per catch.
There was at least some reason to be concerned this game was going to be a trap. The Dolphins were being asked all week about team morale and whether their season was over due to the quarterback situation. Head Coach Mike McDaniel had a long week to prep for this game after playing the previous Thursday. He also had brought in a disciple of Mike Macdonald’s to coach the Dolphins defense this season, allowing him to hone his strategy for attacking it. Riq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon and Tre Brown had never faced Hill or Waddle and their race car speed.
It was not hard to imagine a Seahawks team overlooking a backup quarterback and underestimating the big play speed on the other side. One or two early mistakes could have made this a loss or a far more uncomfortable win.
Remarkably, mistakes did happen, but the defense was not the culprit and instead were the trolls beneath the bridge allowing nobody to pass.
Consider this, the Seahawks defense has faced multiple interceptions on their side of the field, multiple safeties, and a muffed punt. On those six opponent possessions, they have yielded a total of four first downs, and 9 points.
Miami did not get their first 3rd down conversion until roughly the 13 minute mark in the 4th quarter. They finished the game 1-12 on 3rd downs and 0-3 on 4th downs.
No defense in the history of the NFL has held an opponent to 1 conversion or fewer in 15 or greater 3rd and 4th down attempts. Until now.
The only thing missing was turnovers. They pressured the passer from inside and out. They covered well. This was easily their best tackling game of the season.
Doing all that without Uchenna Nwosu, Jerome Baker and losing Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams early, deserves respect no matter the opponent.
It is fine to want to see them against a great offense (if those even exist anymore). My eyes tell me the Seahawks have the best secondary in the NFL and one of the best pass rushes. They tell me that the edge rushers that people were concerned about might actually be a strength. They tell me that the linebackers are going to be just fine. Most importantly, they tell me Macdonald is excellent at his job.
My only hesitation on defense remains in the run game. It still feels vulnerable up the middle. Detroit will be a team that will presents challenges. That feels more fun than scary at this point.
Offensively, the Seahawks came out of the gates with some of the explosion they showed off against the Patriots. D.K. Metcalf made a brilliant catch along the sideline to setup the first of Zach Charbonnet’s touchdowns and followed it up with a 71-yard score right before the first quarter ended.
It got really ugly after that. The offensive line gave up pressure and penalties across the board. Even Charles Cross was victimized for a sack. Connor Williams had penalties and allowed pressures. And, of course, the guards were problematic as has been the case each week.
Anthony Bradford now has six penalties on the season after getting two more in this one. Geno Smith was only sacked three times, but it felt like he was under pressure on nearly every snap. The decision to call two longer developing pass plays when backed up in their own end zone was questionable from Ryan Grubb. The decision to hold the ball and not simply throw it away was questionable from Smith. Both guys need to be better.
Still, Smith ends the game completing 26/34 passes and 289 yards. His command was key even during the lull. There were a number of plays where he looked off defenders to create throwing lanes to Noah Fant.
Fant had his best game of the season with a team-leading 6 receptions for 60 yards. He showed off some nice run after catch as well. Putting that on film will help keep defenses honest. They are undoubtedly looking to double Metcalf after the game-breaking plays he has made the last two weeks. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a solid, if understated, game with just 3 catches but for 39 yards as he flashed yards after catch talent as well.
There are only so many defenders. Smith spoke about it in his postgame press conference. Someone is going to be open on nearly every play. Right now, his line is not protecting him well enough to let him pick apart opponents. He is still completing 75% of his passes through three weeks.
Scott Huff and Grubb know this has to improve if they want to truly contend in the NFC. There is some hope that Abe Lucas will be part of the solution when he returns. Christian Haynes did not see the field in this game, but perhaps he will make progress and shore up one of the guard spots.
As I wrote about this weekend, bad offensive line play is an epidemic across the NFL. Seattle is not unique in what they are experiencing. Nothing is gained from complaining about the issue. In some ways, the Seahawks are fortunate it is one of the few problems to solve on this team.
Think about all the players and position groups that are performing a the high end of expectations. Corners, safeties, linebackers, edge players, and receivers are all playing terrific football.
Kenneth Walker III was electric in the first game and, unlike the 49ers, Seattle has managed to win both their games without their lead back.
Derick Hall was a terror in this game. He finished with two sacks and four quarterback hits. There should be a new category of QB hits just for Hall that indicates whether the opponent’s soul leaves their body on contact.
He brings bad intentions.
Boye Mafe has started another sack streak, with one in each game this year. Teams are going to need to start helping on his side, which only makes Hall that much more dangerous. Nwosu is due back this week and will add to the rotation.
Dre’Mont Jones gets a lot of flak from Seahawks fans because of his contract. This felt like his best game in Seattle. He had a strip sack and multiple QB hits while also contributing in stopping the run.
Seattle may have one of the most productive rotations of edge rushers in the NFL. That is a massive development.
The injuries to Williams and Murphy are a concern. Both players are dynamic elements on the interior. Should they need to miss time, we will likely see Jones play more on the inside and possibly some snaps for Myles Adams.
Walker’s return means a lot to this offense. They are simply less dangerous without him. Charbonnet did better in this game. He finally started to run downhill and break some tackles. His line did not help early, but he has not shown enough elusiveness or power to create his own yards. Feature backs need to have that ability. That final touchdown run was a good example of the type of play he should be capable of making.
The rest of the NFC West collapsed around the Seahawks on Sunday. That left Seattle two games up after just three weeks. It means little with 14 games to go. That should not keep fans from enjoying every minute of it. A Bucs team that entered the week undefeated got blown at home by the same Bo Nix-led Broncos team that the Seahawks beat in week one. Ask their fans if they would prefer to be talking about a bad offensive line performance following a 24-3 win.
Seattle has yet to face a great team. That narrative ends next week in Detroit. Choose whether you want to enter that game apologizing for being the only undefeated squad that walks onto Ford Field or if you want to savor the view and cheer for them to reach the next peak.
