THE STUDS:
1. Mario Williams – Williams was constantly in the face of Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson until he left the game due to a concussion in the second half. Williams’ relentless pursuit of Wilson yielded a sack, a QB hit, several hurries, and he forced a bad pass that led to an Isa Abdul-Quddus interception. Just as important, Williams’ sack came on a third-and-nine from the Miami 16-yard line, forcing the Seahawks to settle for a field goal to open the scoring.
Why it Matters: There was a great deal of scrutiny by some members of the Miami media surrounding the Dolphins’ decision to replace defensive end Olivier Vernon, whom they lost in free agency to the New York Giants, with the much older Williams.