Puppy Bowl XXI

Almost everybody, if not everyone, knows about the Super Bowl. But a less well-known event that is decidedly cuter happens two days before the Super Bowl: the Puppy Bowl. This is an exciting event in which two teams (Team Fluff and Team Ruff) compete for the Lombarky trophy. 

16 dogs are on the field at a time; eight from each team. At the start of the game, the small dogs are on the field, and the dogs get progressively bigger as the game goes on. A Puppy Bowl MVP is also awarded at the end of the game. The puppies who compete in the Puppy Bowl are all shelter dogs. But the dogs who compete in the event almost all get adopted after.

So let's get into this year’s Puppy Bowl. Team Ruff’s star players this year include Paws Allen, Smoosh, and Kiki. On the other side of the field, we see players such as Dee-Bone Samuel, Foxtrot, and Mr. Pickles. Before the big game, players on each starting lineup compete in a bracket-style “popularity playoffs” where fans vote for the pup that they want to advance. The winner of those playoffs is revealed on February 9 and declared the most popular pup.

In the Puppy Bowl, pups score touchdowns by carrying a toy into either end zone. They score a field goal by kicking or pushing a toy into either end zone. Now it’s gameday. The starting lineup went onto the field and the ref blew the whistle. Game on. 

The game opened with Foxtrot of Team Ruff putting the first points on the board with a touchdown. Enrique seemed to score the first field goal of the game for Team Ruff, but later examination showed that it was Rita of Team Fluff who scored the first field goal. Following the field goal, Foxtrot scored another touchdown for Team Ruff, followed by Kiki of Team Fluff scoring a field goal. These scores left the game 14 - 6 for Team Ruff at the end of the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, both teams scored two touchdowns, leaving the score 28 - 20, until, with 15 seconds left in the first half, Charlotte of Team Fluff scored a touchdown and a field goal simultaneously, a Puppy Bowl first! That play made it 28 - 30 at halftime, with Fluff in the lead. The halftime show featured kittens who have been adopted in their new homes. The third quarter opened with a touchdown from both teams, and then a field goal by Team Fluff’s Abigail, making the score 35 - 40. Fluff scored another touchdown, and then Karen of Team Ruff scored a touchdown. But what’s this? Team Fluff’s coach challenged the ruling on the field. After further review, the ruling on the field stands, making it 42 - 47. 

In the 4th quarter, each team scored another two touchdowns. Then, Foxtrot scored a 100-yard touchdown, putting Team Ruff in the lead, 63 - 61. Then, Enrique extended Team Ruff’s lead by 3 points, making it 66 - 61. But with two seconds left on the clock, Paws Allen ran it in for a touchdown, securing the Lombarky trophy for Team Ruff, 66 - 68. Dee-Bone Samuel won the popularity playoffs, and Foxtrot won the most valuable pup. So who do you think will win next year? Are you rooting for Fluff or Ruff?