Vikings block two first half punts, return both for TDs vs. Panthers
The Vikings did something against Carolina that hasn't been done since 1990.
Panthers punter Brad Nortman probably doesn't ever want to play the Vikings again. During the first half of Carolina's game in Minnesota, Nortman had two punts blocked and returned them both for touchdowns.
The first blocked punt came in the second quarter when Adam Thielen came right up the middle and blocked Nortman's punt. Thielen didn't stop there thought, he also scooped up the block and returned 30-yards for a touchdown, setting the franchise record for longest touchdown off of a blocked punt.
Thielen didn't get to hold the record long though because Everson Griffen broke it 12:25 later. After Jasper Brinkley blocked a punt in the second quarter, Griffen picked up and scored from 43-yards out.
And just in case you're wondering, scoring twice on blocked punts isn't something that happens often in the NFL.
Today marks the fourth time in NFL history and first since 9/30/1990 that a team has had multiple blocked punt return TDs in a single game.
— Vikings PR (@VikingsPR) November 30, 2014
The @Vikings are 1st @nfl team since 1975 DET w/ 2 blocked punt TDs in a half
— Randall Liu (@RLiuNFL) November 30, 2014
The two touchdowns helped the Vikings jump out to a 28-6 halftime lead on Carolina. You can follow Panthers-Vikings with our CBSSports.com game tracker here.
