Panthers vs Bucs Game Stopped After Duck Runs Onto Field

The Week 17 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers was interrupted by a duck going on the field in the third quarter. The duck was eventually escorted to the sidelines, but saw some action on the field.

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The Buccaneers blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. Linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka blocked the punt and linebacker J.J. Russell took the ball to the end zone. The duck was on the field to watch the play unfold. Could the duck be the Buccaneers' good luck charm?

There is some speculation that the duck came to greet Oregon product Bucky Irving after he surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season during Sunday's game. Irving is just the ninth player in franchise history to achieve the milestone, and the first since Doug Martin in 2015.

The other Bucs to have recorded 1,000-yard rushing seasons are Martin, LeGarrette Blount, Cadillac Williams, Warrick Dunn, Errict Rhett, Reggie Cobb, James Wilder, and Ricky Bell.

Irving becomes the Bucs' first rookie running back to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark since Martin in 2012. Martin was a first-round draft pick, selected 31st overall. Tampa Bay snagged Irving with the 125th pick this spring.

Furthermore, Irving is the sixth NFL rookie in the last five seasons to hit the 1,000-yard rushing mark and the first in the last two seasons. Seattle Seahawks' Kenneth Walker and Atlanta Falcons' Tyler Allgeier did so in 2022. Pittsburgh Steelers' Najee Harris reached the mark in 2021 and both Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts and James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars did so in 2020.

The Buccaneers' 48-14 victory over the Panthers was an important win for the team. Tampa Bay now has a 9-7 record. The Buccaneers still need one more Atlanta Falcons loss.

The Falcons face Carolina next week, therefore Atlanta's game against the Washington Commanders is pivotal for Tampa Bay's division title hopes.

The Buccaneers signed linebacker Shaquil Barrett only days before their Week 16 matchup as the team prepares to reach the postseason.

"I won't do it for any other scenario or any other team or anything like that," Barrett told ESPN's Kay Adams in August. "I have a lot of history down there. All that stuff that happened with my daughter and stuff, how they came through for the family. ... It just meant so much to me. Tampa got a special place in my heart."

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