Few teams have needed to weather bad luck more than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season, but things might turn around one final time in their favor. With just two weeks left in the season, Tampa Bay is a game out of first place and could manage to sneak back in at the buzzer to win another NFC South title.
To do so they'd need some help from the Washington Commanders, but the bizarro stars might already be aligning in their favor.
The first order of business to getting back into first place was beating the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, something the Bucs did rather handily. It was a blowout win that helped ease some anxiety but was one that saw a lucky duck literally show up and help get the vibes right.
Buccaneers get a nice assist from a duck on blocked punt in Week 17
After taking a 34-14 lead in the third quarter, the Bucs padded things with a blocked punt that J.J. Russell returned for a touchdown. That was cool enough as it was, but before the punt was blocked, a duck appeared on the field.
The Bucs and Panthers game has a duck on the field 🦆 pic.twitter.com/xrJbAq89Dx
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 29, 2024
THERE IS A DUCK ON THE FIELD
— carson tk (@carson_tk) December 29, 2024
and also a blocked punt for a TD… nothing crazy #WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/nSFGnSw1ck
The duck didn't do much, and the game wasn't delayed to get it off nor did it inherently impact the blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown. Rather, the aura of the duck deserves some credit here, and it might end up being one of those random things that happens that ends up being part of something special.
We've seen odd things occur and turn into symbols that teams rally around. Last year the Minnesota Twins ripped off a 12 game winning streak after a player brought a summer sauage into the clubhouse and it instantly became a token of good luck. Perhaps the duck will be that for the Bucs, as things are lining up for the team to make a dangerous run in the playoffs if things break their way.
A loss by the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night would give the Bucs control of the NFC South with just one game left. All that would need to happen then is Tampa Bay winning its last game of the season and a fourth straight division title will have been secured.
Essentially, what the season comes down to is a stroke of good luck -- which would make the Bucs lucky ducks if things work out in their favor.
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