NewsBite

Tail of the Puppy Bowl: Fur flies as players scrap it out for taste of victory

IT’S one of the most important days of the year in American sport, and the panting players went nose-to-nose as they scrapped it out to take the lead.

EMMA REYNOLDS
2 min read
February 2, 2015 - 9:18AM

IT’S one of the most important days of the year in American sport.

The panting players went nose-to-nose as they scrapped it out to take the lead.

This is the tail of 2015’s Puppy Bowl.

Fur was flying as Team Ruff clawed its way to an 87-49 victory over Team Fluff.

Animal Planet’s power-pooches dug deep to put on the highest-scoring match in the competition’s 11-year history.

The game looked like a bit of a dog’s breakfast at times.
The game looked like a bit of a dog’s breakfast at times.
But the determined Team Ruff held on for a win.
But the determined Team Ruff held on for a win.
Tempers flared as some pooches bit off more than they could chew.
Tempers flared as some pooches bit off more than they could chew.

This was no insignificant event, with last year’s game drawing 13.5 million viewers and featuring appearances from both Michelle Obama and viral sensation Keyboard Cat.

This time, Henry and Falcor made sure the Ruff won by far more than a whisker, scoring four touchdowns apiece by dragging chew toys over the goal line. Jamison, on the other hand, could be in the doghouse for letting Falcor score.

Team Fluff’s Drew Carey and Kojak were barking up the wrong tree when they started getting over-amorous on the pitch, and Miss Martian let the side down by missing an attempt on the waterbowl.

Meanwhile, Bryan Adams got tongues wagging when he kicked only the second field goal in Puppy Bowl history.

Jake the Chug (that’s half Chihuahua, half pug) proved to be the most adored pet on the field, taking the Most Valuable Puppy prize, as well as first place in the Viewers’ Choice poll.

All the rescue dogs are up for adoption through New York’s Animal Haven, so they are bound to see plenty of treats in their post-kennel careers. Each was profiled in a short Pup Close & Personal clip, while miniature goat cheerleaders kept the energy up from the sidelines.

Halftime entertainment came courtesy of the pawesome Katty Furry, wearing a blue wig, with Henri, Le Chat Noir also making a brief cat video appearance. But the pups weren’t biting, evicting the kittens from the control room of their show.

Puppies have become a Super Bowl staple, with Budweiser producing another heartwarming “Lost Dog” advert. But cats are again trying to steal the limelight, with Hallmark Channel’s Kitten Bowl getting the crowds purring too.

Other Super Bowl counter-programming comes from the Fish Bowl, for viewers with short attention spans, and even Toddler Bowl, answering the prayers of pushy parents everywhere.

Which game has you begging for more?

Originally published as Tail of the Puppy Bowl: Fur flies as players scrap it out for taste of victory

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/american-sports/nfl/tail-of-the-puppy-bowl-fur-flies-as-players-scrap-it-out-for-taste-of-victory/news-story/e51fdd15fac7b736b26d8f255bb1ae20