Yes, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning requested the change. I suspect Manning had more cred with the NFL to pull off the change. The more I see, the more it looks like the refs did this, not intentionally, but it did get those other calls off the spotlight.
Besides, Seattle is doomed. Mike Greenberg picked them. That is only slightly less of a kiss of death than Obama picking a team.
time will tell... BEAT NE!