[Seahawker 562]

RENTON -- Like most kids whose lives were dominated by sports, John Carlson remembers Thanksgiving being as much about pigskin as it was turkey.


"Every Thanksgiving growing up we'd get together as a family and eat a meal and watch Thanksgiving Day games," the Seahawks rookie tight end said, unable to hold back a smile.

This year, the experience will be really special, because Carlson and his Seahawks teammates will play the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium in one of the traditional Thanksgiving Day games.

It will be a first for Carlson, and the last for Texas Stadium -- the Cowboys will move into a new venue next season.

Just as Carlson has been very good for the Seahawks' lean passing game this season, Thanksgiving games at Texas Stadium have helped the Cowboys fatten up their hefty lore.

The Cowboys are 25-14-1 in Thanksgiving Day games, a series that goes back to 1966. They have beaten 16 different opponents -- including the Seahawks, 51-7 in 1980. They have lost to eight different teams -- including the Seahawks, 31-14 in 1986.

Carlson doesn't remember either of those games, because he wasn't born until 1984. But he will remember this one.

"I'm really excited," he said. "Watching that game was good enough; now I get to take part."

With the excitement comes the experience of playing two games in five days. The Seahawks also did this in the preseason, when they had a Monday game in San Diego and then played Friday against Oakland at Qwest Field.

Asked about any carryover in preparation -- mentally, as well as physically -- coach Mike Holmgren offered, "It seems so long ago. I don't think so."

The coaching staff began its cram session Monday by putting together the game plan, while the players were off. They will gather Tuesday for their only full day of practice and preparation before traveling Wednesday.

"My charge to them, between now and Tuesday when I see them, is to get off their feet and try to recover," Holmgren said after Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Washington Redskins -- one that dropped the Seahawks to 2-9 and clinched their first losing season since 2002.

The Seahawks will face more than tradition at Texas Stadium. They'll be playing a Cowboys team that is 7-4 and needs to continue winning if it is to secure a wild-card playoff spot.

Offensively, the Cowboys will come at them with a huge offensive line featuring left tackle Flozell Adams (6 feet 7, 340), center Andre Gurode (6-4, 31, right guard Leonard Davis (6-6, 354) and right tackle Marc Colombo (6-8, 31. Adams, Davis and Gurode were among the 13 Cowboys voted to the Pro Bowl last season. Left guard Kyle Kosier, the runt of the group at 296 pounds, will miss the game because of a foot injury.

An even bigger story is the return of quarterback Tony Romo after missing three games because of a broken pinkie on his throwing hand. The offense struggled in his absence, failing to score more than 14 points. But with Romo back, that total was enough to beat the Redskins two weeks ago, and then they hung up 35 on the 49ers on Sunday -- when explosive wide receiver Terrell Owens gained 213 yards on seven receptions.

Defensively, it seems everything starts with Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who already has 12 sacks.

That's a lot to prepare for in one week. Given one day, the challenge is obvious. But it doesn't diminish the excitement.

"It's definitely something different," second-year Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane said. "I used to watch this game all the time growing up. I never imagined it might come to me someday."

HAWK TALK: The Seahawks' game against the New England Patriots at Qwest Field on Dec. 7, originally scheduled for a 5:15 p.m. kickoff, will now start at 1:05 p.m. NBC will televise the Redskins' game against Baltimore at 5:15. ... Dallas is 3-0 in the games Kosier has started this season, 4-4 in the games he's missed. Cory Procter will replace him, as he did in the eight games Kosier was out. ... The Cowboys also will be without reserve cornerback Mike Jenkins, who has a hamstring injury.

P-I reporter Clare Farnsworth can be reached at 206-448-8016 or clarefarnsworth@seattlepi.com. Read his Seahawks blog at blog.seattlepi.com/football.

[Bette]

Since I am making dinner, I have it planned for early enough that all will be done in time to sit and watch the Dallas Cowboys carve up the Seattle Seahawks.

[Seahawker 562]

haha aint gunna happen its our turn to win a game!

[Shawn Mike]

Cowboys gonna go strategically.... and after all they are my pick for this match... cheering for you guys.. go ahead

[Bette]

One of the fantasy guys, think it was Richardson, said Romo was just shaking the rust off and look for 300 yards and 3 TDs.