The length of the credits sequence couch gag is dependent upon how long the episode is.
If producers need to fill time during a shorter episode, they'll make an extended couch gag. If the episode's over-running, they'll do a quick-hit visual one.
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Things You Didn't Know about The Simpsons
FanficHere are some mind-blowing facts that you probably didn't know about the Simpsons.