The Dolphins make the six-hour flight this weekend to Seattle for the first time in eight years. At 1-1, the Dolphins are looking to rebound from a tough divisional loss last week, while the Seahawks are in search of their first 3-0 start since 2020 – which coincides with the last meeting between these two teams.
For the Dolphins to pull off the upset, they'll have to do it without the services of their starting quarterback. Skylar Thompson fills in for Tua Tagovailoa, making his first start since the 2022 AFC Wild Card game. It's been a long week after a bitter Thursday Night Football loss to Buffalo, as the Fins look to absolve that sour taste.
Seattle has its own share of injuries. Running back Kenneth Walker will miss his second straight game with an oblique injury, while the third string right tackle – Stone Forsythe – could get his second straight start if George Fant cannot go. The original starter at right tackle, Abe Lucas, is on the physically unable to perform list. His backup, Fant, missed last week's game in New England.
The Seahawks are off to a 2-0 start under Head Coach Mike Macdonald, the first ever for a first-year Seattle coach. Macdonald comes over from Baltimore where he was the defensive coordinator, the same title held by Anthony Weaver here in Miami, who was the defensive line coach under Macdonald last season.
The Miami defense is off to a strong start and will need to be at its best to limit the scoring of a high-powered offense led by quarterback Geno Smith, and a trio of dynamic wide receivers.
If history is any indication, we are in for another thriller this Sunday.
The structure of the NFL schedule creates eight-year gaps between road games for teams in the other conference (the 17th game addition can now expedite those return trips). It's difficult to fathom how much the world has changed since that season-opening matchup back in 2016.
Nobody from that 2016 Dolphins team remains on the current roster, but the Seahawks recently brought back both defensive tackle Jarran Reed and offensive tackle George Fant, both starters on that Seahawks playoff squad.
When these teams have met this century, it always comes down to the final quarter – usually the final drive. In 2020, the teams exchanged late fourth quarter touchdowns, but Miami couldn't cover an onside kick, and the Seahawks knelt on their eight-point lead. That 2016 matchup saw both teams score on their final possessions – concluded by a Russell Wilson touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin with 31 seconds to play.
The last time Miami beat Seattle was the rookie year of Ryan Tannehill in 2012, who notched his first game-winning drive ahead of a walk-off Dan Carpenter 43-yard field goal. The 2008 meeting went Miami's way when the defense held Seneca Wallace and the Seahawks offense to a turnover on downs in the final seconds.
In 2004, Miami was on the verge of another game-winning drive when Michael Boulware picked off A.J. Feeley and returned it 63 yards to break the 17-all deadlock with 53 seconds to play.
The first three Dolphins-Seahawks matchups of the 21st century took place when both teams resided in the AFC – all Dolphins wins, including an AFC Wild Card round victory, the last of Dan Marino's storied career.
Make sure to check out the Injury Report and the team's official social media accounts 90 minutes before kickoff to see who is active for the game.
Watch the game live on Sunday, September 22 at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS, and listen on the Dolphins Radio Network and view the Game Center for the latest coverage.
