The NFL schedule was released on Wednesday evening, which, because the NFL rules all, sent everyone into a collective tizzy. Amid all the (mostly) pointless banter, one team’s schedule stood out: the Seattle Seahawks’. As is tradition, the Seahawks, being the defending Super Bowl champions, get to open at home on a Thursday night, in what will be a rematch of the Fail Mary game against the Green Bay Packers in 2012. However, beyond the season opener, the Seahawks have three scheduled prime time games the rest of the season — all on the road. The NFL allows up to five prime time games per season, so the champs have already been shorted one (EAST COAST BIAS!). Also, you’d think they’d have at least one against either the Broncos (Super Bowl rematch) or the 49ers, right? Nope.
According to 950 KJR AM’s Curtis Crabtree, it’s not so much the NFL screwing the Seahawks, but rather the league having concern over their tendency to trash marquee opponents at CenturyLink Field:
According to a league source, the NFL was wary of putting Seahawks home games on in prime-time due to their track record of blowouts in nationally televised games played in Seattle the last several seasons.
The last three times Seattle has hosted a prime-time matchup, the games have been extremely uncompetitive. The Seahawks hammered the divisional-rival 49ers 42-13 and 29-3 in Sunday night game the last two seasons. They also beat the New Orleans Saints 34-7 on Monday night in December.
Coincidentally, the last close home prime time game the Seahawks played was that Fail Mary game, which they famously (infamously?) won, 14-12. The Seahawks’ other prime time games are against Washington, San Francisco and Arizona. Crabtree also pointed out that four teams have three prime time home games, while 15 others have two prime time games.
[PFT]
