The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers found themselves playing in rainy conditions at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
While not the most ideal conditions for a football game, they were ideal for waterfowl, like say, a duck. And one intrepid duck decided to get a closer look at the action just in time to see a blocked punt get returned for a touchdown.
While the duck might have preferred to see a game featuring the Eagles, Seahawks, Cardinals, Ravens, or Falcons, it had to make due for having it called by Ian Eagle in the CBS booth.
“There is a bird on the field,” said Eagle as Carolina lined up to punt while down 34-14 in the third quarter. “Quack, quack.”
If the bird wasn’t exciting enough, the Buccaneers blocked the punt and returned it for a score by J.J. Russell, much to the delight of the avian spectator.
Ian Eagle, a duck, and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. Panthers-Bucs has it all. pic.twitter.com/xqWdpUSkMr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2024
Unfortunately, it was determined that the duck had not purchased a ticket to the game and needed to leave. Still, the bird didn’t make things easy.
“We’re probably gonna get a penalty. Too many birds on the field,” said Eagle as a ball official tried to escort the duck off the field to minimal results. Eagle seemed to sense the futility of the situation, saying “Just grab him. Just grab him? Can you grab him?”
Analyst Charles Davis presumed the official was trying to nicely escort the duck off the field rather than using force, but Eagle saw a bit more strategy at play.
“Gotta get the sideline,” he said as the duck neared the edge of the field. “That’ll stop the clock.”
Eventually, cameras showed a man carrying the duck and walking towards the field exit.
“They got him,” said Eagle.
“See how nice,” added Davis. “The duck decoy punt block for Tampa Bay may go down in their lore.”
[CBS]