Fans of the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys have been desperate to escape reality in 2024. Luckily for them, ESPN and the NFL have a way to make that happen. The game has been moved to Springfield, the site of the famous nuclear power plant in the long-running sitcom ‘The Simpsons.’
It’s being dubbed ‘Simpsons Funday Football,’ although it’s a mystery how much fun these two fanbases will have if their struggles keep up. Both squads came into the campaign with great expectations and have fallen short time and time again. In the words of Homer Simpson, ‘Kids, you tried your best, and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.’
While that won’t happen in the NFL, the Cowboys and Bengals are at a crossroads. Dallas made the decision to pay big money to Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and other stars, leaving them short on cash in terms of the salary cap. Those contracts have seemingly put a cap on this core’s ability to win moving forward.
The Bengals are stuck in a familiar spot. The bill is coming due for some of their top talent, but Cincinnati isn’t a team that typically pays up in those spots. That’s only cast a cloud over them in 2024, leaving their future up in the air.
It’s fitting that this is the matchup that makes its way to Atoms Stadium in Springfield. Here’s everything you need to know about the alt-cast.
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What is the Simpsons NFL broadcast?
Inspired by the success of alternate broadcasts in sports, ‘The Simpsons’ game is just the latest installment. In an ongoing effort to expand and find new ways to entertain an audience, the NFL previously turned to Nickelodeon and Disney Pixar’s ‘Toy Story.’
While the ‘Toy Story’ version ended up being a one-time thing for the 2023 season’s Week 4 matchup between the Jaguars and Falcons in London, the Nickelodeon gimmick is here to stay. The slime-inspired alt-cast has been a hit, earning a spot in the Super Bowl 58 broadcast lineup. Disney and ESPN even tested their animation capabilities with a ‘Big City Greens’ version of an NHL game, which looks like it’ll become a yearly tradition.
After acquiring ‘The Simpsons’ in their acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, the stage for this Week 14 game to become a reality was set. According to the release, the live animation will feature Bart as a member of the Bengals and Homer with the Cowboys. Marge and Lisa will interview players while Maggie operates the SkyCam.
Voice actors from the show, Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith, are also set to participate. The broadcast will feature skits and other prerecorded content, with some custom scenes from the shows’ producers. ESPN’s Drew Carter, Mina Kimes, and Dan Orlovsky are set to call the action.
When is the Simpsons NFL broadcast?
Fans eager to catch a glimpse of the action in Springfield will have to wait until Dec. 9 for the Week 14 matchup. Anyone looking for the Atoms Stadium experience can view it on ESPN+, Disney+, and NFL+.
Fans who want a traditional viewing experience can still tune into ESPN to hear Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters. The Week 14 matchup will feature a ‘ManningCast’ with Peyton and Eli Manning.
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Who will play in the Simpsons game?
The Dallas Cowboys will host the Cincinnati Bengals in the first edition of ‘The Simpsons’ game. While the actual contest will be played at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, this version will have the teams dueling at their hometown in Springfield.
While the teams hope their fortunes change, it’s been coming up anything but Millhouse this season.
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