3 winners and 2 losers from the Seahawks Week 3 victory over the Dolphins

The Seattle Seahawks had their share of issues in Sunday's win, it's true. But compared to what they put the Dolphins through, win number three was a walk in the park. Seattle had far more than three winners, but these players truly stood out.

Seattle wasn't perfect in their first meeting with Miami in four years, but we all knew they wouldn't have to be. The Dolphins were missing starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, so they were undermanned at the start. The injury situation got even worse for Miami as the game progressed. Third-string quarterback Tim Boyle was forced into the game in the second half and lost other key players, like left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller.

But the Hawks weren't exactly at full strength, either. Uchenna Nwosu missed his third straight game and Kenneth Walker was out for the second consecutive week. Right tackle continued to be a sore spot - literally - as Abe Lucas was still out, and George Fant couldn't go either. Starting linebacker Jerome Baker missed the contest too. Despite all the injuries, Seattle had no shortage of winners in the game.

The Seattle Seahawks had winners at every position in Week 3 versus the Dolphins

Winner: DK Metcalf

There's no reason not to start with the obvious choice, right? Metcalf was so good in this game that before I could finish writing about his remarkable reception that set up the Seahawks' first touchdown, he made an even bigger play. His sideline catch over Phins corner Kendall Fuller was a work of art. Metcalf's acrobatic catch would fit right in with a Tyler Lockett highlight reel, and no one would bat an eye. Except for opposing DBs when they saw Lockett had grown five inches and put on 50 pounds of muscle.

It's gratifying to see the growth in Metcalf's game. Remember last season when he was making stupid penalties, and some 12s were calling for him to be benched? Yeah, I was one of them, and then Pete Carroll did bench him for a game. Yes, DK had some terrible injury that forced him to sit, but then a miraculous recovery the week after. His penalties amazingly cleared up, too. Now we have this guy in his place: the guy who sends spreadsheets to his QB. This is the DK we need.

Loser: Geno Smith

Just thought I'd throw that up there for all the Geno haters. Yes, I've been a staunch defender of Smith's since he won the starting gig for the Seahawks. Surprise, I still am, even though he threw two picks in yesterday's win over the Phins. Geno completed 26 of 34 passes for 289 yards and that spectacular touchdown to DK. So why am I listing him as one of Seattle's losers?

It isn't because of his efforts. No, I listed Smith as one of the Hawks losers because of the lack of support he got from his line. Yes, he threw two interceptions, and he would be the first to accept the blame for those throws. As Bob Condotta reported in his grades for the game, Smith did just that, saying he "must be smarter in those situations."

So to that extent, yes, that's on Geno. But when the pocket is collapsing, or nonexistent, throwing two interceptions - both on tipped passes - isn't the biggest sin in the world. Smith is a loser in this game only because he needed better play from his line.

Winner: Derick Hall

Hey, we told you how good this guy was going to be. Not just us, but no less an authority on linebacker play than the great K.J. Wright thought he would be great. Okay, so maybe K.J. was a bit premature on this call. We can cut him some slack, even if he signed with the enemy this year. He's still a Seahawks legend

It's far too early to say Derick Hall is the next Hawks legend, but games like this certainly put him on the right path. With Uchenna Nwosu out, Hall had to step up his game. He's stepped it up, alright, with seven-league boots. Let's start with four solo tackles and an assist, with one of those stops for a loss. He also had four quarterback hits and capped it all off with a pair of sacks. Really makes you miss Darrell Taylor, huh? You know, the guy that Chicago stole from Seattle for a sixth-round pick? Yeah, DT had one solo tackle yesterday. Thanks, but give me Hall any day and every day.

Loser: Anthony Bradford

Not to beat a dead horse, but this guy is practically ready for the glue factory. Yes, that's inordinately cruel, but so is watching him play every Sunday. Geno Smith is too classy to say anything as callous as this, but I'm okay with it. I'm just not as good a person as Geno.

To be fair to Bradford, I'm sure he's an excellent person too. He probably saves baby squirrels, pays for school lunches in his hometown, and visits children's hospitals every week. I'm not maligning his effort or any supposed lack of effort. But he simply isn't getting it done. He was called for two more critical penalties and gave up another sack.

The entire line had a poor showing, it's true. Even Charles Cross gave up a sack, and he'd been perfect in the first two weeks. But Bradford has been awful, which begs the question: how bad has Christian Haynes been in practice? I'd say it's time to find out if Haynes is one of those guys who switches it on at game time because Bradford clearly isn't.

Winner: Zach Charbonnet

I'll admit it, 12s. During the game, I wondered aloud why the Seahawks weren't going to Kenny McIntosh more often. My wife looked at me and asked if that was some new variety of apple, and asked if I was hungry. Not a football fan. Charbonnet just wasn't making those cuts that we've all seen from Kenneth Walker. I was convinced that number 26 just wasn't that guy.

Happily, I was as wrong as I could be. Charbonnet got stronger as the game wore on, and wore down the Dolphins defenders. He had 10 carries for just 35 yards in the first half, although he also had a sweet four-yard touchdown run. In the second half, he was far more dynamic. He picked up 56 yards on 8 carries and added another score that iced the game for Seattle.

That 3.5-yard average in the first half is what we've seen from Zach for the bulk of the season. But that eight-yard average of the second half, now that's what we saw last year. That's a winner in anybody's book.

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