2011 NFL Schedule: Seattle Seahawks Fans Relieved, Concerned

Seattle Seahawks' fans are accustomed to disappointment. Some reasons are obvious (Super Bowl XL), while others escape casual fans.

One source of their contention revolves around the NFL announcing the regular season schedule. What other team has come off winning their division but failed to land a respectable prime time game? To add insult to injury, their fans saw two other teams from the division receive a coveted prime time slot, despite finishing behind the Seahawks.

As fans await the 2011 schedule announcement, there have been two things at the top of their minds.  

First, will the Seahawks get punished for winning their division with a losing record? While some may wonder how the NFL could accomplish that, the answer lies across the pond...and the team that has to give up a home game to "host" the game at Wembley Stadium.  

Many Seahawk fans were concerned their team would be given that "honor" and lose the advantage the 12th Man gives the Seahawks for one game.

Thankfully, it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that were afforded that opportunity. They may want to think twice about complaining about playoff seeding rules and missing the post-season despite being the third best team in their division.  

The NFL doesn't like to be criticized, and has their ways to punish teams.

As fans await the release of the schedule later today, the other question on the Seahawks' minds is will the team get a solid prime time game? Not an evil Thursday game; that is often a drain on a team coming off of a Sunday game and can be compounded if they play a team that just had their bye week.

Oddly, Seattle had three games last season against a team that was afforded an extra week to prepare for the game...it would be nice to be a little more fortunate in 2011.

Seahawk fans also hope their only prime-time game is a late-season Sunday night game that can be flexed away from the team.

Yes, Seahawks fans want to see their team on Monday Night Football again, or at least be granted an early-season Sunday night contest. This is what is generally afforded teams that won their division the year prior.

Some will argue Seattle doesn't deserve to be in prime time, as they won their division with a losing record. But Seattle showed they can be an exciting team with the playoff win over the Saints. They also proved they have draw-power, as their Sunday night game vs. the Rams set the highest rating for a Sunday night game since 2002.

Come on, NFL...aren't you all about the almighty dollar and TV ratings?

Now we sit and wait...knowing we deserve to be in prime time, but feeling snake bit from prior snubs.