I can't remember where I heard it, but it's been a couple times now where someone has said that no one gives the Seahawks any credit, because they're tucked away in the Northwest corner of the country all by themselves. Actually, come to think of it, it was John Madden on Monday Night football.

Even Al Michaels jumped in and said that you could argue the Dolphins are tucked away in the Southeast corner of the country just as easily, and they had no trouble getting attention in the 70s and 80s - even before the Bucs and later the Jaguars were around.

The Seahawks aren't getting the respect of a 13-2 team because their schedule was very easy - 6 games against the NFC West, two more against the Titans and Texans, one more against the Eagles without McNabb and T.O. and you're down to six real games. Throw in one against the Colts' backups, and you're down to five. So they're 3-2 in those five, losing to Washington and Jacksonville, while barely beating Dallas and the Giants. Their only other "impressive" win was against Atlanta - who could finish 8-8.

You want to know why the Seahawks don't get the respect of a top seed who's 13-2? Because they haven't earned it.