NEW YORK — This year, the Puppy Bowl isn’t just about puppies. Older dogs are getting some attention, too.

There will be a halftime showdown between Team Oldies and Team Goldies, offering a showcase for senior dogs as a reminder that they also need adoption and love.

“Everyone wants the puppy and, unfortunately, the reality of puppyhood is it’s tough,” says Victoria Schade, the show’s lead dog trainer and wrangler. “I think people don’t realize that until they’re deep in the thick of it. That’s the beauty of an older dog, an adult dog, a senior dog: They bring a different sort of calm.”

This year’s event — Puppy Bowl XXII — will bring together 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands. It airs Sunday, simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max and discovery+.

The Puppy Bowl made its debut as counter-programming to the Super Bowl in 2005. Dogs score touchdowns on a gridiron carpet when they cross the goal line — any goal line — with a toy in their mouth.

The puppies are split into two teams — Team Fluff and Team Ruff — and each dog is given a nickname — like “Slick Rick” or “J-Paw” — and a specialty, like “Epic end zone dance.”

The pre-taped show is really just an excuse to spend time watching adorable dogs play with chew toys, wag their tails furiously and lick the camera. A deeper reason is to encourage animal adoption.

“The message of Puppy Bowl is about helping animals who would otherwise not have a great chance in life, especially even more acute in some cases with older dogs because they are often overlooked,” says Joseph Boyle, head of content for Discovery Channel.

The inaugural Puppy Bowl was watched by nearly 6 million viewers. Last year, 12.8 million viewers tuned in. By comparison, 8.66 million watched the recent Golden Globes.

The Puppy Bowl airs Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern and will be simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV. The show repeats throughout the day on those channels.

It will stream on HBO Max and discovery+.