The Lucky Duck Helps Bucs On Punt Return
December 29th, 2024
It had to be the duck.
For those not at The Licht House today or not watching on CBS, one of the wildest plays Joe has seen — not so much for the play but who/what was involved — unfolded midway through the third quarter that pretty much sealed the Bucs win over the Stinking Panthers.
Joe is beginning to believe the football gods were protecting the duck.
“Duck?” you ask. Yes, duck. You know, quack, quack?
The Bucs held the Stinking Panthers, forcing a punt from their own territory. Just before the snap, cameras, both on TV and on the JumboTron at The Licht House, showed a duck had landed on the field and hung out maybe two or three steps from Bucs punt returner Trey Palmer.
(Palmer, Joe was told by Buccaneers Radio Network sideline reporter T.J. Rives, was visibly startled when the duck waddled near him).
The football gods apparently didn’t want the poor thing to get trampled. So instead, the football gods called upon Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to save the duck.
“I’m not even supposed to like ducks,” JTS laughed, reminding Joe he went to Washington — the Oregon Ducks’ bitter rival. “Had to save the duck!”
JTS did. He blocked Johnny Hekker’s punt (his very first playing any level of football), which rolled right to J.J. Russell who scooped up the loose ball and returned it 23 yards for a score.
“Man, it just bounced into my hands,” Russell told Joe after the game. “I had to get my hands on it.”
After the play, the duck was still on the field and a Bucs staffer shooed it to the sideline amid the crowd chanting, “Duh-KEEE … Duh-KEEE … Duh-KEEE!”
That play sealed the win, giving the Bucs a 48-14 lead and enabled lots of backups to get snaps.
That had to be the reason JTS blocked a punt, no? The Lucky Duck?
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
December 29th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
What a highlight!
December 29th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
there was a big roar from the crowd when the duck landed right before the punt. think it was louder than the punt block. lucky ducky and the human victory cigar trask in the same game
December 29th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
That was awesome….And shoutout to JTS
December 29th, 2024 at 5:06 pm
Is this the first game ever where our QB has thrown for over 350 yards and we have rushed for over 200?
December 29th, 2024 at 5:06 pm
As I always tell the wife there’s nothing like a good duck to relieve the stress.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:08 pm
#BuckyTheDucky
December 29th, 2024 at 5:10 pm
I’d say this play took more yards away from Mike than the accepted penalty did. This play took a whole Bucs drive away!
December 29th, 2024 at 5:23 pm
That was awesome when the duck was on the field. it was a good sign for sure!
December 29th, 2024 at 5:31 pm
Somewhere Tony Soprano was smiling.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:50 pm
CBS showed someone in Bucs swag with long hair cradling it afterward, carrying it to safety. Classy, great look for all of us. Take that, Philly fans.
December 29th, 2024 at 6:08 pm
^ yup, def an animal lover
December 29th, 2024 at 6:13 pm
I was at the game and the duck was flying overhead and circled the south end zone twice before landing. A few of us were looking up and I said “is that a duck?”
and the guy behind me said no way it’s a duck, it’s a bird. Everyone was fixated on the duck being right beside Trey and what was going to happen when he caught the ball, so we all missed the actual block on the punt. And yes everyone was chanting Duck-ee. Great stuff.
December 29th, 2024 at 6:16 pm
Somebody give that duck a mascot jersey!!!
Idk if Carolina thought they’d caught us distracted by the duck, but it sure worked out in our favor. It was a great stunt rush we ran on the punt, which is something I don’t recall ever seeing much of (practicing something for the playoffs perhaps?), that looked like it gave our guys an extra split second to get a shoulder past and those guys did the rest. Great play JTS! Do it for the Buc-Duck! Let’s go Bucs!!!
December 29th, 2024 at 9:50 pm
If someone in marketing is not p!anning a Buc’s branded Lucky Duck giveaway at next weeks game they’re sleeping on the job.
December 29th, 2024 at 10:54 pm
Lol Duck-ee Duck-ee was awesome. So much so I missed the blocked punt. Awesome moment someone needs to bring the duck back next game. The place will explode
December 29th, 2024 at 11:50 pm
Awesome reference!
December 29th, 2024 at 11:53 pm
Did he get a game ball?
December 30th, 2024 at 1:39 am
Football Gods smiled on us
December 30th, 2024 at 4:21 am
“Duh-KEEE … Duh-KEEE … Duh-KEEE!” 😂😂