November 17, 2025
The Madden NFL Cast Is Back on Peacock for the Bengals–Ravens Thanksgiving Matchup Peacock’s Madden-inspired alternate broadcast is back, bringing EA Sports overlays, data-driven visuals, and a new commentary crew to Thanksgiving night football
NBC is bringing back the EA Sports Madden NFL Cast, and this year’s edition arrives just in time for the Thanksgiving night matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens. After debuting last December, the Madden-themed altcast returns on Thursday, November 27 at 8 p.m. ET, streaming exclusively on Peacock while the main broadcast airs on NBC.
🎮 A Video Game–Powered NFL Broadcast
The Madden NFL Cast blends live game action with EA Sports–style visuals, delivering a broadcast that feels more like playing Madden than watching traditional television. Expect:
- Animated Madden NFL 26 overlays
- Play art, route trees, and on-screen play cards
- Real-time Madden player ratings
- Enhanced data from NFL Next Gen Stats
- GeniusIQ AI-powered insights from Genius Sports
The goal is to make live football feel interactive, strategic, and highly visual — perfect for fans who want deeper in-game analysis or simply enjoy the fast, clean style of Madden.
📸 New Hi-Sky Camera Angle
For 2025, the altcast will rely primarily on the hi-sky camera positioned behind the quarterback.
This angle mirrors the standard Madden gameplay view, giving fans a field perspective rarely seen in traditional broadcasts. It offers a better look at developing routes, defensive coverages, and quarterback reads — making it ideal for strategy-focused viewers.
🎙️ Upgraded Broadcast Team
This year’s Madden NFL Cast features a refreshed and expanded talent lineup:
Play-by-Play & Analysis
- Paul Burmeister – NBC Sports veteran returning for play-by-play
- Kurt Benkert – Former NFL quarterback and Madden expert, breaking down plays using on-screen graphics
- Tyrann Mathieu – Three-time All-Pro defensive back joining as a new analyst
Mathieu, one of the highest-rated DBs in Madden history, brings elite-level defensive insight after 180 NFL games and a Super Bowl victory with Kansas City.
Real-Time Ratings Adjustments
- Chad Johnson – Former Bengals star wide receiver returns to adjust Madden-style ratings in real time
- Kay Adams – Reporting on-site from Baltimore
Johnson’s role as a “ratings adjuster” mirrors his long-running Madden connection — he famously debated his ratings in meetings with John Madden himself.
🏈 A New Era of Interactive NFL Viewing
NBC showed off an early look at the broadcast during Sunday Night Football, highlighting its similarities to Prime Video’s “Prime Vision” streams, but with a more Madden-specific twist.
This announcement comes shortly after Peacock revealed yet another alternate broadcast — a reality-TV-style SNF companion — signaling a clear push for innovative, experimental NFL viewing formats.
🔥 Final Thoughts
The Madden NFL Cast continues to evolve, offering fans a hybrid of esports presentation and traditional football analysis. With upgraded visuals, expanded commentary, and a camera angle straight out of the Madden playbook, this Thanksgiving matchup is shaping up to be one of the most unique broadcasts of the NFL season.