Russell Wilson leads Seahawks to first 4-0 start since 2013 with 31-23 win in Miami

The Seattle Seahawks took their show in front of a live audience Sunday for the first time this season, though with just 12,369 allowed inside, the vibe inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was still mostly easy listening.

And at one point, radio silence.

The hometown Dolphins had pulled to within two points of Seattle midway through the fourth quarter, and on the first play of the Seahawks’ subsequent possession, the headset in quarterback Russell Wilson’s helmet connecting him with play-caller Brian Schottenheimer went kaput.

No matter. Wilson had the Seahawks back into the end zone in just six plays – a momentum touchdown that carried Seattle to a 31-23 victory over the Dolphins and a 4-0 start to the NFL season for just the second time in franchise history.

The first time – in 2013 – ended with a Super Bowl victory over Denver, triggered by a vicious, overwhelming defense. Now it’s Wilson and the offense that are dominating opponents, but for the first time this season they got significant support from a maligned defense.

The Seahawks still surrendered more than 400 yards, but this time made the Dolphins settle for five field goals by Jason Sanders. Miami didn’t get into the end zone until 1:50 remained on quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 10-yard scramble, and when Seattle tight end Jacob Hollister made a Willie Mays-style over-the-shoulder catch of a lob-wedge onside kick, the Dolphins never saw the ball again.

Interceptions by Ryan Neal and Shaquill Griffin helped the cause, too.

And so did a lack of stage fright.

“You don’t freak out,” said Wilson of the headset malfunction. “You know what you want to do and how to attack and you just go do it.”

Left to his own devices, Wilson found Tyler Lockett — for the first time all game — on a 9-yard competition and a 30-yard crossing route. Then, with Miami unsettled while trying to rush on new defenders in the red zone, David Moore got behind Miami rookie Noah Igbinoghene for a touchdown that pushed Seattle’s lead to 24-15.

“The reality is, I’ve always called a lot of two-minute plays and situations,” Wilson said. “There was never any panic.”

That was true at a couple of key junctures.

Seattle had never trailed after Neal picked off Fitzpatrick’s third pass of the game and the Seahawks turned it into a quick 7-0 lead — Wilson throwing a dart to DK Metcalf for the big yards, and Chris Carson bulling through for the first of his two touchdowns.

But the Dolphins kept chipping away with those field goals, drawing to within 10-9 just 24 seconds before halftime.

Which Wilson turned into 17-9 with three seconds to spare.

Escaping left from the Miami rush, he found a wide-open Moore on a 57-yard stunner. In close, he looked off a covered Metcalf to locate Travis Homer for the running back’s first NFL touchdown.

“As has to happen in a drive like that, you have to hit something,” said Seattle coach Pete Carroll. “And I really loved the opportunity right at the end to get the plays we needed to get the touchdown. We work on that stuff a lot and it’s a situation you like to feel comfortable in and composed.”

Nor did the Seahawks swoon when Wilson threw his first real interception of the year — the other was the result of a Greg Olsen drop against New England. That came at the end of a drive to open the second half, Xavien Howard slashing in front of Metcalf in the end zone.

Wilson finished 24-of-34 for 360 yards (“Russ for MVP 2020,” Metcalf campaigned), while the Seahawks got a somewhat unexpected lift from Carson, who rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries. The bruising back had strained a knee last week on a rolling tackle, but worked his way back — then had to recover from

a wicked lick by Miami’s Elandon Roberts that sidelined him in the second quarter.

“Chris is a monster,” said linebacker K.J. Wright. “I can’t wait until he gets paid, whether it’s here or someplace else. He’s top five in my eyes.”

And the Seahawks are one of two 4-0 teams, with Kansas City and Green Bay having Monday night dates.

“I know it’s early, I know it’s fun,” said Wright. “Our mission is still to win the (NFC) West and we haven’t played any of those guys yet.”