Seahawks roll to 24-3 win over Dolphins as Miami deals with another QB injury

SEATTLE (AP) — Just three games into his tenure, Mike Macdonald has the Seattle Seahawks off to a perfect start and already with a two-game division lead.

Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins are again facing questions about who will be under center at quarterback moving forward.

“All that matters is that we win, however that we get it done," Seattle QB Geno Smith said. "I'm not really particular about that, but 3-0, it's a great start."

Smith threw for 289 yards and a 71-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf, Zach Charbonnet rushed for two TDs, and the Seahawks beat Miami 24-3 on Sunday where the attention turned to another injury suffered by a Dolphins quarterback.

A week after losing Tua Tagovailoa to the third concussion in the past two years, the Dolphins watched Skylar Thompson suffer a chest injury in the second half, leaving Tim Boyle to try to lead the charge back from a 17-3 deficit.

Boyle was unable to direct a comeback and the Dolphins (1-2) were stuck back in a place of uncertainty about their QB situation.

Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Thompson suffered a painful rib injury.

“You have to look at everything and you have to find a way to give your team the best chance to win," McDaniel said. "I think in 2022, this was something that happened to us as well and ultimately the rest of the league does not care, nor should they. So, we have to find a way to get better collectively.”

Thompson was hurt in the third quarter, staying down after being shoved by Dre’Mont Jones following a pass to De’Von Achane. But the injury was likely suffered on the previous drive when Thompson was sacked by Tyrel Dodson and was hunched over at the midsection as he ran off the field.

Thompson was 13 of 19 for 107 yards before leaving. He was also sacked five times.

Seattle is the first team since the Steelers in 1979 to start 3-0 and hold each of those opponents to under 150 yards passing. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for seven catches for just 66 yards.

“It's such a dangerous team. You know the usual suspects," Macdonald said. "When they get their hands on the ball you've got to take great angles, you need inside-out pursuit, you've got to set the edge. I thought our front played incredibly hard.”

Tagovailoa made the trip to Seattle just over a week after suffering the concussion against Buffalo on Sept. 12. The Dolphins expressed confidence that Thompson would be able to step in and keep their potent offense moving.

But all Miami could manage was Jason Sanders’ 23-yard field goal in the first quarter. Miami had just 205 total yards.

“I've never won a game scoring three points, so I think collectively starting with me it has to be better. We have to get it figured out fast," McDaniel said.

Miami had a chance to pull within one score early in the fourth quarter following Smith’s second interception of the game — a pass that was deflected by Calais Campbell and grabbed out of the air by Zach Sieler. Miami reached the Seattle 3, but failed on four attempts and turned the ball over on downs.

Seattle answered that defensive stand with a 98-yard scoring drive, capped by Charbonnet's 10-yard TD run with 4:55 left. Charbonnet finished with 91 yards rushing on 18 carries, while Smith was 26 of 34 passing, including the long TD toss to Metcalf.

Seattle improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2020.

“We always talk about closing the game and for the offense that was our opportunity to go close the game ... and just be on the attack right there. I think we did a great job,” Charbonnet said.

Seattle’s offense was humming early with Smith throwing for 133 yards in the first quarter. The big shot came on the final play of the first quarter when Metcalf used a double move to flash open and Smith found him for his seventh career touchdown catch of 50 yards or more.

But after that opening quarter it was a rather miserable afternoon for the Seahawks on that side of the ball with drives often stymied by penalties. The teams were each flagged for 11 accepted penalties with several more declined or offsetting.

“I think that's the only thing that stopped us today was the stupid penalties that we had,” Metcalf said.

Along with Thompson, the Dolphins lost starting left tackle Terron Armstead (eye) and cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) to injuries in the first half.

Seattle lost significant depth on the defensive line as rookie first round pick Byron Murphy II (hamstring) and Leonard Williams (ribs) were both lost to injuries in the first half. Both were ruled out at halftime.

Dolphins: Host Tennessee next week on "Monday Night Football."

Seahawks: At Detroit next week on "Monday Night Football."

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel reacts as Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson is evaluated on the field after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf makes a catch before running the ball for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith looks to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (8) tackles Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (15) looks on at left. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) reacts after a reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) is evaluated on the field after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tim Boyle (14) throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws a touchdown pass to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, not pictured, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson lies on the field after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) greets running back Kenneth Walker III after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) looks to get around Miami Dolphins defense during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55) tackles Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) after a throw during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. Thompson was taken out of the game after the play after an apparent injury. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, right, looks on from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Four people were killed and 17 others injured when multiple shooters opened fire Saturday in what police described as a targeted “hit” on one of the people killed at a popular nightlife spot in Birmingham, Alabama.

The shooting happened shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday in Five Points South, a district filled with entertainment venues, restaurants and bars that is often crowded on weekend nights. The mass shooting, one of several this year in the city, unnerved residents and left city officials pleading for help to both solve the crime and address the broader problem of gun violence.

“The priority is to find these shooters and get them off our streets,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said at a Sunday press conference.

The shooting occurred on the sidewalk and street outside Hush, a lounge in the entertainment district. Blood stains were visible on the sidewalk outside the venue on Sunday morning.

Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond said authorities believe the shooting targeted one of the people who was killed, possibly in a murder-for-hire. He said a vehicle pulled up and “multiple shooters” got out and began firing, then fled the scene.

“We believe that there was a ‘hit,’ if you will, on that particular person,” Thurmond said.

Police said approximately 100 shell casings were recovered at the scene. Thurmond said law enforcement was working to determine what weapons were used, but they believe some of the gunfire was “fully automatic.” Investigators were also trying to determine whether anyone fired back, creating crossfire.

In a statement late Sunday, police said the shooters are believed to have used “machine gun conversion devices.” The devices make semi-automatic weapons fire more rapidly.

Police said officers found two men and a woman on a sidewalk with gunshot wounds and they were pronounced dead there. An additional male gunshot victim was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to police.

Police identified the three victims found on the sidewalk as Anitra Holloman, 21, of the Birmingham suburb of Bessemer; Tahj Booker, 27, of Birmingham; and Carlos McCain, 27, of Birmingham. The fourth victim pronounced dead at the hospital was pending identification.

By early Sunday, after victims began showing up at hospitals, police had identified 17 people with injuries, some of them life-threatening. Four of the surviving victims, in conditions ranging from good to critical, were being treated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital on Sunday afternoon, according to Alicia Rohan, a UAB spokeswoman.

Gabriel Eslami, 24, of Trussville, said he was in a long line of people waiting to get into the club when “all of the sudden, gun shots everywhere.”

He took off running. “I look back and there are bodies laid out on the sidewalk with gun smoke still in the air. It looked like something from a horror movie,” Eslami said.

He said he didn’t realize he was wounded until he suddenly lost feeling in his leg. A friend took him to the hospital, where he was treated and released.

The area of Birmingham is popular with young adults because of its proximity to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the plethora of nearby restaurants and bars.

Geoffrey Boshell, a 22-year-old biomedical engineering student who lives nearby, said he was working on a school project when he heard a burst of rapid pops that he said sounded like automatic gunfire.

“I heard it, looked out my window and immediately see people screaming, fleeing the scene,” Boshell said.

The shooting in the bustling and popular area was unnerving, he said. “I’m not sure scared is the right word. Just very disturbed that it was happening right outside where you are living.”

The shooting was the 31st mass killing of 2024, of which 23 were shootings, according to James Alan Fox, a criminologist and professor at Northeastern University, who oversees a mass killings database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with the university.

Three of the nation’s 23 mass shootings this year were in Birmingham, including two earlier quadruple homicides.

Woodfin expressed frustration at what he described as an epidemic of gun violence in America and the city.

“We find ourselves in 2024, where gun violence is at an epidemic level, an epidemic crisis in our country. And the city of Birmingham, unfortunately finds itself at the tip of that spear,” he said.

The Birmingham mayor also urged state and federal officials to give cities more tools to address gun violence. He put both hands behind his back to illustrate what it is like for cities to combat crime. Alabama last year abolished the requirement to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public.

Woodfun said there is an “element” in the city that is too comfortable carrying Glock switches — which convert semi-automatic handguns to deliver more rapid fire — and assault-style rifles with the intent of doing harm.

“Elected officials locally, statewide and nationally have a duty to solve this American crisis, this American epidemic of gun violence,” the mayor said.

The Biden administration was coordinating with federal, state and local officials in their investigations into the shooting, Stef Feldman, director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, said in a statement.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris join Americans across the nation in praying for the families affected by this senseless violence,” Feldman said.

Associated Press writer Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed to this report.

CORRECTS DATE hat appears to be a bullet hole is visible in the window of Hush, a hookah and cigar lounge, in Birmingham, Ala. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, the day after a mass shooting took place. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

Blood stains were visible on the sidewalk outside of a nightclub in Birmingham, Ala. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, after a mass shooting took place. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

A firefighter cleans blood stains off the sidewalk outside a nightclub in Birmingham, Ala. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, after a mass shooting took place. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

The scene of a fatal Saturday night shooting near Hush, a hookah lounge, in the Five Points neighborhood of Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Drops of blood remain at the scene of a fatal Saturday night shooting in the Five Points neighborhood of Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

The scene of a fatal Saturday night shooting outside Hush, a hookah lounge, in the Five Points neighborhood of Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

This image provided by WBMA shows police tape near the scene of a shooting in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Bill Castle/WBMA via AP)

This image provided by WBMA shows police working on the scene of a shooting in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Bill Castle/WBMA via AP)

This image provided by WBMA shows police and emergency vehicles in the entertainment district after a shooting in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Bill Castle/WBMA via AP)

This image provided by WBMA shows bystanders near the scene of a shooting in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (Bill Castle/WBMA via AP)