The Buccaneers are seeking all the help they can get as they attempt to secure a fourth straight NFC South title Sunday.
Tampa (9-7) has enjoyed a charmed season thus far, with Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs and Vita Vea spearheading a solid attack and defense. A victory against the lowly Saints in Week 18 — and the corresponding postseason berth such a result would bring — would serve as the ultimate verification of Tampa’s success.
Todd Bowles’ side is exhausting all resources to get it done, including bumping shoulders with the team’s newfound mascot: a duck.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Buccaneers duck, explained
The origins of the Tampa Bay’s waterfowl obsession aren’t hard to find. In Week 17, the Buccaneers and Panthers locked horns atop the lush Raymond James Stadium grass.
Tampa cruised to a 48-14 victory fueled by a 359-yard, five-touchdown Mayfield outburst.
The penultimate of the Bucs’ six scores came in the 5:23 mark in the third quarter when JJ Russell corralled a blocked punt and trundled 23 yards to the end zone. Just before his shining moment, CBS’ cameras panned to a duck waddling down the field.
We interrupt this nature show about ducks to bring you A BLOCKED PUNT SCOOP-AND-SCORE @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/eVg7jSGQjn
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 29, 2024
The David Attenborough-like scene caused mayhem, both in the stands and across social media. Some view it as prophetic — in Homer’s Odyssey, Penelope shares a deep connection with geese, and the virtuous and faithful wife of Odysseus helps him to victory. Others were merely tickled to see the sight of such a delicate creature sharing the field with professional football players.
Either way you slice it, the Bucs’ duck has the attention of the sports world. And the duck returned to Tampa’s stadium for a Week 18 duel with the Saints, bumping shoulders with Tom Brady and Ryan Jensen, among others.
MORE: How Buccaneers can clinch NFC South title in Week 18
Social media reacts to Buccaneers duck
The Tampa Bay duck is back and he’s hanging out with a GOAT.
📺: #NOvsTB – 1pm ET on FOX
📱: https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/8mLz4h2MqG— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
LOOK WHO’S BACK 🦆😎 pic.twitter.com/rDwsLB9Ay0
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 5, 2025
BREAKING: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed the Duck to a 5-year, $250 million deal, per sources. pic.twitter.com/dCMPbKBPDy
— matt (@OCPDesigns) December 29, 2024
Duck decoy defense. 🦆 #Bucs pic.twitter.com/Xapkg7jEuB
— Mike DeSantis (@MichaelDeSantis) December 29, 2024
A duck got on the field during the #Buccaneers game… 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/dnwJlVYdzx
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 29, 2024
WHAT THE DUCK JUST HAPPENED?! 🦆🤯 https://t.co/E2o02NnCzZ pic.twitter.com/c5Vhjnyt8V
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 29, 2024
