NBC and Peacock announce EA Sports Madden NFL alternate lineup for Texans-Chiefs in Week 16

The famous Madden video game franchise, one of the best-selling sports video games of all time, is about to enter a new dimension: it is becoming an alternative cast.

Announced at halftime of Thursday’s game between the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers, NBC Sports and Peacock will partner with the NFL, EA Sports and Genius Sports to produce “EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast” for the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs to present game on December 21st at 1pm ET. The Madden NFL Cast will stream exclusively on Peacock, while the game will air on both NBC and Peacock.

According to NBC Sports, Madden’s alternate lineup will mix video game elements and live action, bringing in Madden NFL’s brand elements as animated overlays. The alternative cast includes Madden NFL 25 graphics, route trees, game maps and player ratings.

The alternate lineup will have its own commentary team: Paul Burmeister will be the play-by-play announcer and former NFL quarterback and YouTuber Kurt Benkert will use graphic overlays to discuss and predict game options. Six-time Bengals Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco will serve as a real-time player “ratings adjuster.”

Henry Leverette, who won the Ultimate Madden Bowl championship ring in February and is the first player in Madden NFL Championship Series history to reach $1 million in career earnings, will also be part of the broadcast. Madden NFL Cast is produced by Steve Greenberg and directed by Geoff Butler.

“This first-ever Madden NFL cast marks a new milestone as Peacock’s first replacement cast in sports,” Fred Gaudelli, NFL executive producer for NBC Sports, said in a statement. “John and the Madden family have long been proud that their video game has helped generations of fans and players learn and enjoy football, and we are excited to continue that tradition.”

An important note: NBC Sports said that the execution of the Madden NFL lineup is dependent on the weather given the visibility required. For example, if it is snowing heavily in Kansas City that day, there is a chance that the overlays/route trees/graphics will not appear on the white field.

There are 11 players on the Texans and Chiefs rosters who have a Madden rating above 90, including Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, who were two of just six players rated in Madden 99 this NFL season Club” overall ratings started with 99. Houston tackle Laremy Tunsil (95 rating) and running back Joe Mixon (93) are the top Texans in Madden Ratings.

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(Photo by Patrick Mahomes: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)