Three bold predictions for the Seahawks Week 3 game versus Dolphins

You know how you’ve got that one friend who predicts that Western Washington B-Ball is going all the way every single year? Then when Rory Blanche and Richard Woodworth come along and the Vikings take the crown in 2012, that friend never shuts about it? Well, this week that friend is me. And Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is Western Washington.

I told you he’d have a breakout game against the Patriots last week. 16 targets, 12 catches, 117 yards. Quite frankly, with 16 targets, he probably should have done a little better, but that’s coming. He’ll begin to break plays as the season goes on.

As for my other, bold predictions... why look back?

Bold predictions for the Seattle Seahawks Week 3 game versus the Miami Dolphins

OK – there was no long field goal. It just never came up. There was a potential 48-yarder, but Julian Love blocked it. Thanks, Julian. I suppose, considering that the game went into overtime, I can’t be too mad about that. I just whiffed on that one.

I missed big on the other one too, but at least I have a defense. Once Kenneth Walker III was ruled out of the game, my prediction of a combined 65 rushing attempts went out the window too. Not having your workhorse back changed the game script.

I still thought the Hawks would run more than they did. I was prepared to claim victory if the teams combined to go over 57 – I figured that was a fair Walker adjustment. But even though the Pats ran as I thought they would, Seattle only ran 19 times. They had no success early, and then simply abandoned it.

But this week I’m going even bigger and bolder. I’m predicting one thing that simply defies logic, a second that builds on that, and a third that is entirely based on a hunch, with not one shred of supporting evidence.

Buckle up. Here are three bold predictions for Sunday’s game against Miami.

Miami will throw the ball 40 times

This might not be all that shocking if Tua Tagovailoa was starting at quarterback. But it appears almost certain that it will be Skylar Thompson instead, backed up by Tyler Huntley. If you don’t know who Skylar Thomspon and Tyler Huntley are, don’t worry. Half of the Dolphins’ players don’t know them either.

Actually, Thompson has been with the Dolphins since 2022. He was in the first draft class chosen by Mike McDaniel and has been Miami’s backup for the past two seasons. Most analysts look at Thompson’s inexperience and marginal talent and figure Miami will feature the run heavily against the Seahawks.

My prediction is entirely based on the fact that Mike McDaniel is one sneaky and arrogant genius. He knows the Hawks will be prepping to stop Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. McDaniel will think he can devise something to take advantage of that. I suspect he will have Thompson flinging the ball all over the field.

He will throw short to those backs. He will throw both long and short to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. He will throw to Jonnu Smith. He will come out throwing and he will keep it up. If it doesn’t work, Miami will fall behind and he will have to throw. If it does work and Miami takes the lead, he will double down and keep throwing. That is how Miami plays football under Mike McDaniel.

It doesn’t matter who is under center. If Thompson is a trainwreck, he’ll insert Huntley. He will throw almost as much, only he’ll also take off and run a little more often. Therefore, if Huntley plays more than a series, I trim my prediction to 37 throws. But I think they’ll get to 40.

Seattle will have five sacks

The interior of the Dolphins offensive line is suspect. Leonard Williams should have another big day. The Dolphins have two quality tackles but Terron Armstead was injured last week and his status is iffy. Even if he plays, there is a very good chance he will either be diminished or will not be able to last the entire game. Armstead has dealt with injuries for much of his career. This should open things up for Boye Mafe and Derick Hall and even – you heard it here first – Dre’Mont Jones. I see Jones getting his first sack on the season on Sunday.

This all grows out of the game script that I envisioned above. The Dolphins will try to surprise the Hawks by throwing and the Hawks will make them pay. The key will be to prevent the big plays. McDaniel is willing to give up sacks if he can hit two or three deep shots.

A big day for Number 1

Will.I.am had a feeling. He just knew that tonight was gonna be a good night. Well, I gotta feeling too. Laviska Shenault Jr. is going to make a play that we will be talking about come Monday. Maybe on a kickoff return. Miami’s Jason Sanders can kick it into the end zone, but so far this year, he has allowed a couple of returns.

Maybe it will come on a catch. Miami has a veteran secondary and now recognizes that Seattle has three dangerous receivers to worry about. But they can’t cover everyone and that means Jake Bobo or Dareke Young – or Shenault, will have something special. My money is on Shenault.

It might even come on a jet sweep or shovel pass. This is especially true if Walker can’t go again. Seattle will want to get the ball into the hands of playmakers, and Laviska Shenault is a playmaker. I say this fully aware that Shenault has been on the field for a total of 10 offensive snaps this season, has touched the ball three times, and has gained a total of seven yards (excluding kickoff returns). We call that “being due.”

This of course is nothing more than a hunch, but I’ve gotta a feeling that Laviska Shenault Jr. is gonna paint the town, shut it down, and burn the roof. And Sunday is gonna be a good night.

I don’t really have a bonus prediction for this week, but I’ll give you this. The over/under on the number of times I will mix up “Mike Macdonald” and “Mike McDaniel” in articles about this game is 2.5.

And a shout out to Western Washington Women’s Rowing, among the most dominant sports programs in the state.

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