In the middle of the third quarter, the Panthers lined up for a punt with Tampa Bay leading 34-14. A duck then flew onto the field, generating an exuberant reaction from the home crowd.
The Bucs’ fans cheers then erupted into a roar after J.J. Russell scooped up a blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown. That score essentially put the game out of reach.
The duck was escorted off the field following the play, but was not quickly forgotten by the Bucs and their fans. The Bucs changed their profile picture on X to a picture of the duck wearing a Bucs jersey.
The NFL account had their own fun with the gimmick, inserting an image of the duck standing next to punt returner Trey Palmer on their X dashboard.
While the duck may be the most lasting image of the game, the Bucs will enjoy the reward of their victory a bit more. With the Falcons’ loss, Tampa Bay no longer needs help to get into the NFC Playoffs and just needs a win next week to continue their season.
For some Bucs fans, this duck could be a humorous rallying image if the their team carries on into the postseason.
