These Iowa puppies will melt your heart when they compete in Puppy Bowl XIV

Tom Brady who?

While the Patriots and the Eagles go at it in Minneapolis, these 11 Iowa puppies will make their debut at the biggest game on four legs — Puppy Bowl XIV!

The big game airs at 2 p.m. Sunday on Animal Planet and once again will feature a frenzy of furry friends from De Soto-based AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport.

Since founding AHeinz in 2008, CEO Amy Heinz has built a network of more than 700 volunteers who helped foster more than 10,000 surrendered and homeless dogs.

More:

How an abandoned dog with a broken leg on I-80 saved 10,000 furry friends and produced Puppy Bowl MVPs

Super Bowl 2018 TV viewer's guide: What to watch to prep for Eagles vs. Patriots

In 2012, Heinz got a call from an Animal Planet producer who had seen one of her rescue's dogs online and wondered if the shelter had any puppies who might be good on camera.

That call marked the beginning of a six-year relationship between the Puppy Bowl and AHeniz57.

All the puppies making their star-turn Sunday already have been adopted, but there are plenty of other dogs that need good homes. To learn more about adoption, visit Aheinz57build.org.

And without further ado, here's Iowa's starting lineup:

Kitsy

Breed: Shiba Inu

Shiba Inu Gender: Female

Female Weight: 10 pounds

10 pounds Age: 19 weeks

19 weeks Team: Team Ruff

Team Ruff Likely position: Quarterback

Quarterback History: Kitsy was surrendered to AHeinz57 by an Iowa breeder because she was born with bad knees. Kitsy fought through injury and is walking just fine now. Believe us: Her "bad knees" didn't stop her from becoming a star in the Puppy Bowl!

Kitsy was surrendered to AHeinz57 by an Iowa breeder because she was born with bad knees. Kitsy fought through injury and is walking just fine now. Believe us: Her "bad knees" didn't stop her from becoming a star in the Puppy Bowl! Stats: If Kitsy lived on a farm, she would be the one stealing eggs. She's sly like a fox, fast and very focused on prey. She's conspiratorial and always after something — especially toys — which makes her a great Puppy Bowl player.

Elara

Breed: Pit/boxer mix

Pit/boxer mix Gender: Female

Female Weight: 27 pounds

27 pounds Age: 19 weeks

19 weeks Team: Team Ruff

Team Ruff Likely position: Cheerleader

Cheerleader History: Elara and her siblings were scheduled to be euthanized at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, shelter before being saved by AHeinz. The closest to a celebrity of the AHeinz57 Puppy Bowl team members, Elara was transported to Iowa in a van donated by country singer Miranda Lambert.

Elara and her siblings were scheduled to be euthanized at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, shelter before being saved by AHeinz. The closest to a celebrity of the AHeinz57 Puppy Bowl team members, Elara was transported to Iowa in a van donated by country singer Miranda Lambert. Stats: A heartbreaker with striking blue eyes, Elara's picture does not even begin to do her justice. But don't let her demeanor fool you, she's got some fight her in. With the body of a boxer, she can jump and push with the best of them.

Peanut

Breed: Australian shepherd mix

Australian shepherd mix Gender: Male

Male Weight: 15.8 pounds

15.8 pounds Age: 15 weeks

15 weeks Team: Team Ruff

Team Ruff Likely position: Coach

Coach History: Peanut and his siblings were saved from a shelter in Oklahoma. Peanut almost didn't get to make his debut on the Puppy Bowl, but when another dog wasn't able to attend, Peanut was called up.

Peanut and his siblings were saved from a shelter in Oklahoma. Peanut almost didn't get to make his debut on the Puppy Bowl, but when another dog wasn't able to attend, Peanut was called up. Stats: Peanut is cautious and calculated. He is the thinker of the group, plotting his route before making a move. But make no mistake: He's not shy or scared, he's just looking before he leaps.

Dexter

Breed: German shepherd mix

German shepherd mix Gender: Male

Male Weight: 17.6 pounds

17.6 pounds Age: 18 weeks

18 weeks Team: Team Ruff

Team Ruff Likely position: Wide receiver

Wide receiver History: Dexter and his siblings Koda and Dodger were orphaned puppies in a shelter in Houston, Texas. When AHeinz's crew traveled south to save shelter animals after Hurricane Harvey, these three caught their eyes immediately. The siblings were too sick to travel then, but AHeinz teamed with Pilots and Paws to airlift the siblings to Iowa as soon as they were healthy.

Dexter and his siblings Koda and Dodger were orphaned puppies in a shelter in Houston, Texas. When AHeinz's crew traveled south to save shelter animals after Hurricane Harvey, these three caught their eyes immediately. The siblings were too sick to travel then, but AHeinz teamed with Pilots and Paws to airlift the siblings to Iowa as soon as they were healthy. Stats: Dexter and his sister Koda are rambunctious and have seemingly limitless energy. They were so spunky and loud that they almost got the rest of the team kicked out of a hotel.

Lovey

Breed: Border collie/beagle mix

Border collie/beagle mix Gender: Female

Female Weight: 10.9 pounds

10.9 pounds Age: 12 weeks

12 weeks Team: Team Ruff

Team Ruff Likely position: No. 1 fan

No. 1 fan History: Lovey came from a shelter in Pryor, Oklahoma, with her three orphaned siblings. They all look exactly like beagles except Lovey, who has the features of a border collie.

Lovey came from a shelter in Pryor, Oklahoma, with her three orphaned siblings. They all look exactly like beagles except Lovey, who has the features of a border collie. Stats: Lovey fits her name to a tee, and she's just too darn Iowa Nice to play football. She always wants to cuddle and her favorite place in the world is smack dab in the middle of your lap.

Dodger

Breed: German shepherd mix

German shepherd mix Gender: Male

Male Weight: 17.8 pounds

17.8 pounds Age: 18 weeks

18 weeks Team: Team Ruff

Team Ruff Likely position: Wide receiver

Wide receiver History: Dodger and his siblings, Koda and Dexter, were orphaned puppies in a shelter in Houston, Texas. AHeinz's crew traveled south to save shelter animals after Hurricane Harvey, and the siblings were too sick to travel then. AHeinz teamed with Pilots and Paws to airlift the siblings to Iowa as soon as they were healthy.

Dodger and his siblings, Koda and Dexter, were orphaned puppies in a shelter in Houston, Texas. AHeinz's crew traveled south to save shelter animals after Hurricane Harvey, and the siblings were too sick to travel then. AHeinz teamed with Pilots and Paws to airlift the siblings to Iowa as soon as they were healthy. Stats: More cautious than his siblings, Dodger likes to take in the field of play and size up his opponents. Fast and nimble, Dodger can run a toy with the best of them, but he likes to have a plan before making any big moves.

Buckalew

Breed: "Chiweenie." (Mom was a Chihuahua and dad was a miniature dachshund.)

"Chiweenie." (Mom was a Chihuahua and dad was a miniature dachshund.) Gender: Male

Male Weight: 5 pounds

5 pounds Age: 13 weeks

13 weeks Team: Team Fluff

Team Fluff Likely position: Craft service

Craft service History: Buckalew's mom and dad were surrendered to a shelter when his mom was pregnant. AHeinz raised the puppies in a foster home together. Buckalew and his siblings were carried down the aisle in lieu of flowers during a local wedding. The pictures of these "puppy bouquets" went viral and the dogs made appearances in newspapers the world over.

Buckalew's mom and dad were surrendered to a shelter when his mom was pregnant. AHeinz raised the puppies in a foster home together. Buckalew and his siblings were carried down the aisle in lieu of flowers during a local wedding. The pictures of these "puppy bouquets" went viral and the dogs made appearances in newspapers the world over. Stats: He's an itty-bitty love bug. He likes being wrapped in a blanket like a little burrito. He rarely walked during the filming of the Puppy Bowl because everyone kept offering to carry him.

Jessie

Breed: Hound mix

Hound mix Gender: Female

Female Weight: 30 pounds

30 pounds Age: 19 weeks

19 weeks Team: Team Fluff

Team Fluff Likely position: Linebacker

Linebacker History: Jessie was found with her siblings on the side of the road when they were 2 weeks old. The litter was bottle-fed and all survived.

Jessie was found with her siblings on the side of the road when they were 2 weeks old. The litter was bottle-fed and all survived. Stats: Jessie and her sister, Watch, are like teenage kids. They're right at that gawky age where their arms and legs are too long to really know exactly what they are doing with them. They were restless and excited up until the moment they got to the Puppy Bowl. Then the sisters got camera shy and clammed up.

Koda

Breed: German shepherd mix

German shepherd mix Gender: Female

Female Weight: 13.6 pounds

13.6 pounds Age: 18 weeks

18 weeks Team: Team Ruff

Team Ruff Likely position: Wide receiver

Wide receiver History: Koda and her siblings, Dodger and Dexter, were orphaned puppies in a shelter in Houston, Texas. AHeinz's crew traveled south to save shelter animals after Hurricane Harvey, and the siblings were too sick to travel then. AHeinz teamed with Pilots and Paws to airlift the siblings to Iowa as soon as they were healthy.

Koda and her siblings, Dodger and Dexter, were orphaned puppies in a shelter in Houston, Texas. AHeinz's crew traveled south to save shelter animals after Hurricane Harvey, and the siblings were too sick to travel then. AHeinz teamed with Pilots and Paws to airlift the siblings to Iowa as soon as they were healthy. Stats: Koda and her brother Dexter are rambunctious and have seemingly limitless energy. They were so spunky and loud that they almost got the rest of the team kicked out of a hotel.

Watch

Breed: Hound mix

Hound mix Gender: Female

Female Weight: 30 pounds

30 pounds Age: 19 weeks

19 weeks Team: Team Fluff

Team Fluff Likely position: Linebacker

Linebacker History: Watch was found with her siblings on the side of the road when they were 2 weeks old and were bottle-fed.

Watch was found with her siblings on the side of the road when they were 2 weeks old and were bottle-fed. Stats: Watch and her sister, Jessie, are like teenage kids. They're right at that gawky age where their arms and legs too long to really know exactly what they are doing with them. They were restless and excited up until the moment they got to the Puppy Bowl, when they got camera shy and clammed up.

Horton

Breed: American Staffordshire terrier mix.

American Staffordshire terrier mix. Gender: Male

Male Weight: 13 pounds

13 pounds Age: 13 weeks

13 weeks Team: Team Fluff

Team Fluff Likely position: Safety

Safety History: Horton, his siblings and his mom were at risk of being euthanized at a shelter. Horton and his little family were rescued by AHeinz when he was very young.

Horton, his siblings and his mom were at risk of being euthanized at a shelter. Horton and his little family were rescued by AHeinz when he was very young. Stats: Horton is your average playful, but inattentive puppy. He's like the kid who daydreams in right field during Little League; totally zoned out until the ball comes his way. He's happy to be at the Puppy Bowl, but just, well, aloof.

How to help

To make a donation to AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport, visit http://www.aheinz57build.org/donate.html or send a donation to AHeinz57 P.O. Box 188 De Soto, IA 50069.