Peacock’s EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast Levels Up on Thanksgiving With SkyCam as the Primary Angle and More Madden Elements

Producer Stephen Greenberg details how NBC and EA SPORTS sharpened the gaming-inspired broadcast for Year Two

When the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals square off on Thanksgiving night, Peacock streamers will get a distinctly different look at the game thanks to the return of the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast, NBC Sports’ alternate broadcast blending real NFL action with the perspective and visual language of Madden NFL 26.

NBC Sports lead producer Stephen Greenberg: “We learned viewers wanted more of what makes this show unique — more ratings insight, more Madden elements, more of the fun stuff.”

After a successful debut last December, this year’s version once again brings together teams from NBC Sports, EA SPORTS, and Genius Sports, except this time the effort in primetime with new features, expanded data integration, and a deeper commitment to replicating the way millions of fans see football through the Madden video game.

“We want it to be a football game first,” says NBC Sports lead producer Stephen Greenberg. “That’s the core identity of the video game — anything that happens in Madden is rooted in what happens on the field. Everything in Madden is rooted in real football, and we want the show to react to real football, just through the Madden lens. That’s really the guiding philosophy.

SkyCam Moves to the Front Row

One of the most significant evolutions for 2025 is the decision to use SkyCam as the primary game angle, shifting the broadcast into a perspective familiar to any Madden player: directly behind the quarterback. The idea was on the table last year but wasn’t feasible given the tight production timeline. This year, the crew committed to making it the show’s visual backbone.

“For people watching this broadcast, this is the view they’re used to seeing when they play the game,” says NBC Sports lead producer Stephen Greenberg, who returns to the chair of the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast. “It lets our analysts drop right into that quarterback point of view — see the routes develop, read the space, and diagnose where things might be vulnerable pre-snap.”

The team has rehearsed extensively with this angle, exploring how it changes the rhythm of storytelling and how it highlights matchups and coverage shells that might not be as obvious from traditional sideline angles.

A More Data-Rich, Ratings-Driven Broadcast

The Madden NFL Cast leans more heavily this year into player ratings, attributes, and in-game matchups, spotlighting the data layers that drive Madden’s logic.

MORE: EA SPORTS’ Evan Dexter on How the ‘EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast’ Blends Gaming and Live NFL Production

Instead of just sorting the game through traditional stats, the broadcast uses Madden ratings as key context for both pre-snap analysis and post-play breakdowns. That includes: pre-snap matchup graphics showing wide receiver/cornerback rating differentials; virtual player-rating overlays visible as the offense breaks the huddle; and skill-specific indicators (speed, release, stiff-arm, coverage ability)

“It’s almost like talking through combine numbers rather than just stats,” Greenberg says. “If you see Ja’Marr Chase in the slot lined up against a linebacker with a much lower rating, that’s instantly something to watch.”

These visuals and insights are powered by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats and Genius Sports’ GeniusIQ platform, which converts real-time data into Madden-style animations and overlays.

The debut Madden NFL Cast last season was an ambitious experiment that taught the production team important lessons about pacing, workflow, and how viewers engage with alt-casts. One of the surprises: retention went up as the game progressed — a rarity for alternate feeds.

“We learned there was an appetite for more of what makes this show different,” Greenberg says. “More ratings, more insight, more of the video-game elements. This year, we’re leaning into that.”

Because the Madden NFL Cast relies on the Sunday Night Football camera complement for much of its game coverage, the team spent considerable time refining the balance between the primary broadcast and their own studio-driven environment.

Studio One at NBC Sports — typically home to NBA coverage — will once again serve as the set, though redesigned with a look and feel meant to echo the casual environment where many fans actually experience Madden.

A Matchup Built for Madden

From a production standpoint, this year’s Bengals–Ravens matchup sets up beautifully for a broadcast rooted in Madden logic. Lamar Jackson is one of the most dynamic video-game quarterbacks ever created; Ja’Marr Chase sits in the 99 Club; Derrick Henry’s power abilities are legendary within the game.

“These are the players people pick when they turn the game on,” Greenberg notes. “The plays that make your jaw drop in real life — Lamar breaking contain, Derrick Henry running someone over — those things translate directly to their Madden abilities. It’s a natural fit.”

The Madden NFL Cast airs as part of the NFL’s John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration, now in its fourth year. NBC will also debut a Madden-focused feature during halftime of the traditional broadcast. While the production is rooted in technology and experimentation, the team is mindful of the responsibility to honor Madden’s legacy.

“John Madden wanted the game to feel authentic,” Greenberg says. “That’s our responsibility here — make the broadcast fun, make it smart, and keep it rooted in real football.”

A Talent Lineup Designed for the Chess Match

On the air, the broadcast blends football expertise with the sensibilities of longtime Madden players. Paul Burmeister returns on play-by-play; Kurt Benkert again brings a quarterback’s eye to the game; Tyrann Mathieu joins this year to offer a defensive perspective; and Chad Johnson and Kay Adams return on-site as ratings correspondents

Mathieu, who has faced both Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow on the field, adds a layer of authenticity to the defensive side of the chess match. His perspective helps complement Benkert’s offensive analysis, creating a more complete read of each snap.

Meanwhile, Johnson continues one of the broadcast’s most popular elements: live ratings adjustments based on in-game performance — a fun, fan-facing mechanic that merges the real and virtual worlds in a way no other alt-cast attempts.

The EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast streams on Peacock on Thursday beginning at 8 p.m. ET.