Seahawks defense comes up big on goal line twice to turn back Dolphins

The Seahawks defense ruled the day Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field, and no more so than after Geno Smith’s interceptions put the unit in a bad spot.

Miami had first-and-goal at the six after a first-quarter interception, yet had to settle for a field goal. After driving to the Seattle 2 in the fourth quarter after another interception, the Dolphins got nothing.

After seeing the defense stand up in those situations, the Seahawks’ offense responded with touchdowns, helping key their 24-3 victory that pushed the team to 3-0.

“Our red-zone defense, I thought, was poised,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “We communicated well, and the red zone, that’s what wins you games. Those are critical situations, and high-leverage downs. But our guys had a great mentality. When they get in the red zone, the reason is not good, so you have to have the mentality that you’re protecting every blade of grass.”

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That is what the Seahawks defense did.

The Dolphins picked up just two yards on three plays after the first-quarter interception and scored their only points of the game on Jason Sanders’ 23-yard field goal.

“That was big time,” Macdonald said of holding Miami to just three points.

Smith was grateful that the team’s defense picked him up.

“When we talk about complementary football, those are the things we talk about,” Smith said. “We’ve got to eliminate the mistakes and it starts with me. I’ve got to eliminate putting our defense in tough spots, but to see them go out there and not flinch, put the clamps on that offense and hold them to three points — that was the only points they got throughout the game.”

Smith responded immediately after that field goal, connecting with DK Metcalf on a 71-yard touchdown pass on the next play from scrimmage, which was the final play of the first quarter.

That gave the Seahawks a 17-3 lead.

“It gives us a boatload of confidence when you know they always got our back in that sense,” Metcalf said of the defensive stop before his touchdown. “We’re not going to go out there and mess up on purpose by any means, but with the type of defense that we have on our team, it just gives us the utmost confidence to go out there and just play free.”

The Dolphins had a chance to get back into the game early in the fourth quarter after intercepting a pass that gave them the ball at their 48-yard line.

Miami had one of its better drive and had first-and-goal at the Seattle 3-yard line.

Two De’Von Achane runs netted 1 yard, then after an incompletion, the Dolphins went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2. The pass never had chance of being complete.

The Seahawks’ offense responded again to a defensive stand, marching 98 yards in 11 plays and sealing the win on Zach Charbonnet’s 10-yard touchdown run.

“They had another big-time stop late in the game, right before the big drive, so the way they’re playing is lights out, man,” Smith said. “It’s going to give us a chance to win every single game we play.”

Miami finished with 205 yards of total offense. The Seahawks sacked Dolphins quarterbacks six times. It was that kind of a day for Miami, and when it twice got close to the end zone, the Seahawks’ defense was at its best.

“I give all credit to the defense,” Charbonnet said.