Inside The Vikings

Aaron Jones' TD keeps Vikings from breaking unwanted record set in 1920s

The Dayton Triangles were the last team to go this long without a second-half RB rush TD.
Will Ragatz|
Nov 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field.
Nov 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field. | Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

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Credit to the FOX broadcast's research team for coming up with an incredible stat during the third quarter of Sunday's game in Chicago. As the Vikings approached the goal line against the Bears, a graphic popped up which noted that a Minnesota running back hadn't scored a rushing touchdown in the second half of 27 consecutive games.

The only team with a longer streak in NFL history? The Dayton Triangles, who were part of the league from its founding in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association until 1929 (and went 18-51-8 during their existence). They apparently went 31 straight games without a second half rushing touchdown by a running back.

That record won't be broken this year. Jones punched in a two-yard score one play after the FOX graphic appeared, preventing the Vikings from matching an unwanted feat from a century ago.

It was the first second half rushing TD by a Vikings RB since Alexander Mattison got one against the Bears in Week 17 of the 2022 season. They went all of 2023 without one, with both of their two total rushing scores after halftime that season coming via scrambles from Josh Dobbs. And they went the first ten games of this season without one, too.

Jones certainly had no idea about that specific stat when he got in the end zone at Soldier Field, but he felt quite relieved nonetheless. It was just his third rushing touchdown of the season, and his first from inside the red zone since Week 1 against the Giants. Between those short TDs, Jones had nine carries from an opponent's 5-yard-line or closer result in -10 yards and a lost fumble.

That fumble came early in Sunday's game. After breaking off a 41-yard run, Jones got a carry from the 1 and was stripped by Bears safety Jonathan Owens for another crushing Vikings red zone turnover. It was the latest and most severe example of Minnesota's inability to run in touchdowns from close range, something Kevin O'Connell was asked about last week. "We've gotta be able to run the football in," he said.

But the Vikings stuck with Jones, and it paid off. He finished with 106 rushing yards on 22 carries and that key touchdown.

"It's hard because I want to get in the end zone so bad," Jones told NFL Network's Stacey Dales about his fumble. "You lose the ball, those are things that get you fired. I can't do that. I gotta be better than that. But I'm glad I got a chance to make up for it, and I told coach 'thank you for sticking with me.' It means the world to me."

And the Dayton Triangles' infamous streak lives on.

Published
Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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