Vikings Return 2 Blocked Punts for Touchdowns in 1 Half

The Minnesota Vikings returned two blocked punts for touchdowns in Sunday's 31-13 win over the Carolina Panthers, becoming the first team since the 1975 Detroit Lions to have multiple punt-block touchdowns in a single game, per ESPN Stats & Info.

The odd feat started midway through the first quarter, when Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen blocked a punt by Carolina's Brad Nortman and then returned it himself for a 30-yard touchdown to give Minnesota an early 14-0 lead.

No. 2 came just inside the 10-minute mark of the second quarter, with linebacker Jasper Brinkley doing the blocking and defensive end Everson Griffen scooping it up for a 43-yard touchdown.

While Thielen is a rather anonymous undrafted free agent from the 2013 rookie class, Griffen and Brinkley have both handled big roles on defense this season.

Brinkley has 56 tackles (40 solo) and nine starts in 12 games, but it's Griffen who has been the real star, ranking seventh in the NFL with 11 sacks.

As different as the three players' roles may be, all will share an odd part of Vikings history—one that realistically may never be repeated.

Prior to Sunday, Minnesota's last blocked punt return for a score came back in 1986, when defensive back Issiac Holt scored the unusual touchdown in a 27-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN Stats & Info.