A landmark partnership between NBC Sports Washington and the Washington Redskins will see the professional American football team offer in-game predictive gaming during live television broadcasts of its four preseason contests, making it the very first NFL franchise to do so.

Dubbed “Predict the Game,” the pilot telecasts will reportedly feature free-to-play contests where during each quarter of the game fans have the chance to win $1,000 cash along with a variety of second-chance prizes.

According to the official press release…

…in an NFL first, NBC Sports Washington will have exclusive coverage of the presentations, including real-time statistics and sports betting information, along with the free (“Predict the Game“) contest, on its NBC Sports Washington Plus channel. It will begin during the Redskins-Browns preseason opener on Thursday, August 8, at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Just a glimpse:

While the Freddie Kitchens-led squad’s starters aren’t likely to play many snaps, it’ll be interesting to gauge whether or not all the excitement that grew during the offseason is justified.

The contest will give fans and bettors alike a glimpse into how legalized sports betting and sports broadcasts could be integrated. And is the latest indicator that the League not only accepts the trajectory but embraces it.

Enhancing the fan experience:

Explaining the significance of the new partnership, Senior Vice President for the Washington Redskins, Scott Shepherd, said…

“We’re thrilled to partner with NBC Sports Washington to bring the first predictive, free-to-play live game telecast to the NFL. This partnership strategically aligns with our organization’s commitment to constant innovation for our fans. We are continuously working to enhance the fan experience and strive to identify new, meaningful ways for our incredible fans to engage with our team.”

The enhanced experience will be displayed on a graphic overlay surrounding the game telecast, while the full audio, video and graphics via the regular live-game coverage will be part of the alternate presentation. The two will run concurrently on NBC Sports Washington, which has produced Redskins preseason games since 2011.

Senior Vice President and General Manager for NBC Sports Washington, Damon Phillips, added…

“We are committed to delivering the most engaging experience possible to fans, so the opportunity to partner with the Redskins to combine live NFL action with predictive gaming this preseason is something we are very excited about.”

How to enter:

The Predict the Game contest that is free and easy-to-enter, allows fans to predict outcomes of various game and player performances such as (who will have the most rushing yards in a quarter) via a series of questions that will appear on users’ desktop or mobile devices, as well as on-screen. Participants will be awarded for their selections and will receive additional points for correct predictions.

At each quarter’s end, a top eligible scorer will earn or share the $1,000 prize. A new game will begin each quarter. Second chance prizes such as memorabilia, VIP experiences and game tickets, will be awarded to eligible randomly selected participants.

In order to play, fans are required to create an account or log in at www.nbcsportswashington.com/predict. There they can submit their predictions via desktop or mobile device. You can join Predict the Game throughout the entire game. Access to contest rules and other features will also be provided by the site.

Preseason schedule:

For fans interested in participating, the schedule for Redskins preseason predictive-gaming presentations on NBC Sports Washington is at 7:30pm on the evenings of August 8, 15, 22 and 29th, when the team plays Cleveland (away), Cincinnati (home), Atlanta (away) and Baltimore (home), respectively.

NBCS Washington:

Sports Business Journal reports that NBCS Washington began producing “Predict the Game” telecasts in January via a partnership with Monumental Sports for eight Wizards NBA games. And that this spring, the Redskins were approached by executives from RSN about ways in which to enhance broadcasts of the team’s preseason games. The team, according to the news agency, was receptive to the telecasts and advocated for the League’s acceptance as well.