The Dallas Cowboys haven’t been very animated in some of their blowout losses this season. But on December 9, help is on the way: The Cowboy-Bengals “Monday Night Football” game will feature an alternate broadcast with the game transformed in real time into the cartoon world of “The Simpsons.”

“The Simpsons Funday Football” telecast will be streamed live on Disney+ and ESPN+ at the same time as the “real” broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes. “Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli” will be simulcast on ESPN2, and both the traditional telecast and Peyton and Eli will also be on ESPN+, with each distinct presentation available on the ESPN App. All telecasts will begin at 7 p.m. Central.

Transformed by Sony’s Beyond Sports and Hawk-Eye tracking tech

The Dec. 9 Cowboys-Bengals game will get the “Simpsons” treatment on Disney+ and ESPN+ thanks to cutting-edge Sony technology. [Video still: ESPN]

So how will real-life Dak become animated Dak—hopefully tossing animated touchdowns to an animated CeeDee Lamb? Using Sony’s AI-based “Beyond Sports” technology, AT&T Stadium will be transformed into Atoms Stadium in Springfield, creating a “fully immersive fan viewing experience.” 

NFL’s Next Gen Stats player tracking data will be combined with ESPN’s Beyond Sports and Hawk-Eye Innovation technology to turn actual NFL plays into a Simpsons-esque virtual re-creation of the live game.

The creators of “The Simpsons” have collaborated on the look, sound, and feel of the telecast with both ESPN and the NFL, “to ensure the authenticity of the longest running primetime scripted series with more than 750 episodes,” ESPN said.

This is the second year in a row that ESPN, Disney, and the NFL have presented a “Funday Football” telecast. 

Every play in the game will get the Simpsons treatment

Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, and all the other players will get the “Simpsons” treatment on Disney+ and ESPN+ thanks to cutting-edge Sony tech. [Video still: ESPN]

In the alternate telecast, each Cowboys and Bengals player will appear as a motion-enabled, animated player. Through state-of-the-art tracking technology, “every snap, run, pass, score, and more” will be translated into a cartoon world as it happens.

Beyond Sports is able to combine two data sources, analyze, validate, enhance, translate to a 3D environment, and stream to a desired platform in real-time, ESPN said—while Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking “creates dynamic player and character movement including detailed limb movement and mannerisms.”

Homer will become a Cowboys homer

Two big “Simpsons” stars will take different sides of the field for the broadcast. Homer will become a Cowboys homer, while Bart joins the Bengals and Joe Burrow. 

“For most of the game, Bart and Homer will let their new Bengals and Cowboys teammates manage the action, but the iconic father and son duo won’t sit on the sidelines for the entire game,” ESPN said. “Each will select key opportunities to play offense and/or defense, replacing a player and joining his other 10 teammates on the field.”

Meanwhile, Marge and Lisa will interview players during the game and Maggie will fly the SkyCam. Other “Simpsons” characters, show references, and aesthetics will pop up throughout the alternate telecast as well.

Providing the animated commentatary will be ESPN’s “Simpsons” fans Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky, who’ll offer football strategy chat with Drew Carter calling the game action. Kimes, Orlovsky, and Carter will be animated in the “Simpsons” style, and will wear ESPN Edge Innovation Partner’s Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield thanks to VR technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports’ Virtual Commentator Technology, ESPN said.

Many still believe in this year’s Cowboys team. With marquee players like Micah Parsons, Tank Lawrence, and Daron Bland due back from injury, the team could turn around its losing season and maybe even win a Super Bowl this year. However, a sizable number of ‘Pokes fans worry that the team is becoming a joke. At least on December 9, those fans can get some laughs out of it.

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