If you bristle at the crash of helmets and puke upon seeing Velveeta dip, don’t despair. Puppy Bowl XVIII will air tomorrow at 2 PM, ET, ahead of Super Bowl LVI. It will be held at Geico Puppy Bowl Stadium, a scaled down model of an NFL arena, and broadcast on Animal Planet and streamed on Discovery Plus.
Puppy Bowl was created in 2004 to raise awareness about the plight of homeless animals, showcase heroes in animal rescue and slay viewers with the players’ hall-of-fame scrambles, play bows and adorable end runs.
This year’s “bout” between “Team Ruff “and “Team Fluff” features throngs of adoptable pups from 67 shelters across 33 states. During the broadcast, viewers “call-in” to adopt their favorite player. In between “quarters,” producers will name remaining pups available for adoption.
The Pre-Game Show kicks off at 1 PM ET where fan-favorite sportscasters Rodt Weiler, Sheena Inu, James Hound, and field reporters Mini Pinscher and Greta Dane dish the inside scoop on this year’s Puppy Bowl Draft ahead of the big game. Half-Time festivities feature 34 adoptable kittens prancing, slinking and purring against a beach-party backdrop.
Both teams have 18 “starters” each between 12 and 21 weeks old. To “score” for their team, a puppy must cross either goal line carrying one of several stuffed toys on the field. Tumbling tackles, ear tugs, tail swipes and sloppy kisses often happen along the way resulting in fumbles and “penalties.” Liberal substitutions are made throughout the game to give every puppy a chance to play.
A veterinarian as well as representatives from the ASPCA and each of the shelters caring for the dogs will be onsite to guard against excessive “backfields in motion” or “unnecessary ruff-ness.” The top scoring team at the end of regulation will be awarded the “Lombarky” trophy.
Each year since 2011, a MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) is hailed as a standout performer. Scouting reports cite “Chorizo,” a Dachshund and American Staffordshire terrier-mix, and “Birch,” a chihuahua Pomeranian-mix, as heavy favorites. “They’re tiny, but they pack a huge punch,” said Puppy Bowl ruff-eree, Dan Schachner.
Among the most notable moments from past Puppy Bowls have been “penalties for excessive cuteness,” Schachner told AM Northwest last Thursday. “The punishment for our penalties is an extra cuddle.” Each Puppy Bowl sees 100 percent of players get adopted. “And we’re expecting the same result this year,” Schachner said.
A record 103 puppies — including nine pairs of siblings and several special-needs dogs — will take the field for Puppy Bowl XVIII. In Puppy Bowl XVII last year, Team Ruff bested Team Fluff 73-69. Marshall, a hearing impaired Boston terrier, snagged MVP.
Wearing double hats as hosts and coaches are Snoop Dog for Team Fluff and Martha Stewart for Team Ruff. Click here to view the full player roster and the local shelters from which they can be adopted.
Did someone say “tail-gate?”