Meet The NJ Shelter Dogs In Puppy Bowl XIX

NEW JERSEY — While the Giants-Eagles postseason matchup has divided two of New Jersey's biggest NFL fanbases, the region will have other competitors aiming for glory on the national stage.

Several young New Jersey canines will compete in Puppy Bowl XIX, which features adoptable shelter dogs from around the country. Team Ruff and Team Fluff will compete for the "Lombarky trophy" in the puppy version of football, played inside a model stadium with color commentary from Animal Planet announcers.

The Puppy Bowl pregame show starts at 1 p.m. Feb. 12 — the same day as the Super Bowl — with "kickoff" time an hour later.

The payoff for the puppies is the equivalent of a lifetime contract for love. The Puppy Bowl was created to increase adoption rates at shelters across the country. So far, it’s 18-0 when it comes to adoption rates.

The following puppies will compete in the adorable showdown:

Match Dog Rescue (Marlton):

• Barnaby
• Effie
• Myrtle

Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue (Deepwater):

• Asiago

These pups are among 122 featured from 67 shelters and rescues across 34 states. For the first time this year, the Puppy Bowl features a Native American dog rescue group and a puppy player from Dominica, West Indies.

Like the NFL players, the puppies will try to score a touchdown. Puppy Bowl referees are more forgiving than they are in the NFL, though, because energetic, excited puppies are going to let it play out every chance they get.

Still, they can be benched and replaced with a second-string puppy if they’re called for penalties that can range from "pass inter-fur-ence," "unnecessary ruffness" and "premature watering of the field."

The Puppy Cheer Squad will be back, as will fan favorites like footage captured by water bowl, slow motion and end zone pylon cameras. The puppies' red-carpet arrivals will also be highlighted.

And while Rihanna headlines the Super Bowl halftime show, the Puppy Bowl will have its own Kitty Halftime Show, when adoptable kittens try to dance their way into viewers’ hearts. MVP and "Underdog" awards will also be handed out.