Seahawks are pulled from national broadcast vs. Patriots

No chance to shield America from the Seahawks this week.

Seattle's nationally televised date in Dallas on Thursday was cemented as soon as the NFL schedule was announced in April.

However, the nation was saved from being subjected to the Seahawks for a second consecutive week when Seattle's game against New England on Dec. 7 was pulled off NBC's "Football Night in America" broadcast.

Instead, the Seahawks will host the Patriots at 1:05 in a game that will be televised regionally. NBC will televise Washington's game at Baltimore on Sunday night.

The announcement was no shock. The NFL implemented a flexible scheduling policy in 2005, which allowed the start times of certain Sunday games to be changed. At 2-9, Seattle is assured of its first losing season since 2002 and NBC will instead feature a game between two teams in the playoff chase.

No keeping the Seahawks off the Thanksgiving menu, though. Seattle will play in the second of three NFL games scheduled to be played Thursday.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was asked about the schedule after Sunday's loss to Washington in which Hasselbeck finished with his fewest passing yards in any game since January 2006.

"To be honest, I can't wait to play another football game," Hasselbeck said. "Because this one was not my best effort."

Well, that makes one person looking forward to this week's game.

As far as turnarounds go, this week will be a difficult one for Seattle. Not quite as hard as turning around a 2-9 record, but difficult nonetheless, as the Seahawks have three days off between games.

"It's going to be tough, but they have to do it, too," Hasselbeck said.

This will be the third time the Seahawks have played at Dallas on Thanksgiving. Seattle lost 51-7 to the Cowboys in 1980 and 31-14 in Dallas in 1986.

Seattle has played Dallas twice in the previous three seasons. The Seahawks beat the Cowboys in the playoffs in January 2007, winning 21-20 after quarterback Tony Romo failed to handle the snap on what would have been a game-winning field-goal attempt. Seattle beat Dallas 13-10 in October 2005 after Jordan Babineaux picked off a pass from Tony Romo toward the end of the fourth quarter.

Those were two of Seattle's eight consecutive victories over NFC East opponents from 2005 to 2007, a string that included three playoff wins.

The Seahawks have lost, by an average of 20 points, all three games they have played against NFC East opponents this season. The margins are shrinking, however. Seattle lost by 38 points to the Giants, 19 points to the Eagles and three points to Washington.

Coming close doesn't offer much consolation to a team that is assured of a losing record.

"We're going to have to do a little bit more on Thursday if we want to feel good about our Thanksgiving," safety Brian Russell said after Sunday's loss.

Note

Dallas will be without left guard Kyle Kosier (foot) and rookie cornerback Mike Jenkins (hamstring) against the Seahawks on Thursday.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com