NFL 2024 Season - Week 5
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The Other 21
by Dennis Ranahan

When a backup quarterback is called upon to replace an injured starter many will focus on the newly inserted player. In truth, the reason backups do so well in their first week out has a lot less to do with them and a lot more with the 21 other players on the field that are inspired to play their best to compensate for the loss of their starter.

Desperation often generates the best results.

This week, the Miami Dolphins head crosscountry to meet the Seattle Seahawks, winners of their first two games and looking for a third as a home team favorite. A favorite role that has increased in the point spread given the Dolphins will be without their starting quarterback.

Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion a week ago Thursday in the Dolphins one-sided home loss to the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa has a history of concussions, and some are talking about the possibility of the fifth-year quarterback retiring from the game while he still has all his faculties.

Whether the talented but often injured signal caller calls it quits or returns in a couple weeks, the Dolphins on Sunday will have to rely on Skylar Thompson to avoid having Miami dropping a second straight contest.

If you saw their opener, you might know that Miami is lucky to not have already dropped two games. The Dolphins got numerous breaks, and the Jacksonville Jaguars made enough mistakes to allow Mike McDaniel’s team to escape with a three-point win on opening day. Now, off their lopsided loss to the Bills, the Dolphins are looking down the gun-barrel of a second straight loss and an early season departure of being a viable postseason squad.

Conversely, under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks have downed their first two 2024 adversaries. On opening day, the Seahawks picked up a home victory over one of their NFC West rivals, the Denver Broncos, and last week won on the east coast over the home-standing New England Patriots.

The two victories have lifted the Seahawks to a surprise all alone first place standing in their division. Both the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals have one win and one loss entering Week Three, and the Seahawks other NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams, are still looking for their initial 2024 victory.

So, what do we have here?

We have a Seattle team favored at home atop their division standings and meeting a banged-up Dolphins squad without their starting quarterback.

What could be easier?

That is “easier” not from a standpoint of a Seahawks victory on Sunday, but “easier” to spot the obvious motivational edge the Dolphins own this week.

Qoxhi Picks: Miami Dolphins (+4½) over Seattle Seahawks