Inside The Vikings

NFL's Weird Touchback Rule Burns Justin Jefferson, Vikings on TNF

Jefferson nearly had a touchdown. Instead, the play resulted in a turnover.
Will Ragatz|
NFL's Weird Touchback Rule Burns Justin Jefferson, Vikings on TNF
NFL's Weird Touchback Rule Burns Justin Jefferson, Vikings on TNF

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Minnesota Vikings

If Justin Jefferson's fumble had gone out of bounds at the one yard-line, the Vikings would've been set up with first and goal and a chance to take the lead back from the Eagles on Thursday night.

But because it crossed the goal line before going out of bounds, by rule, it was a touchback that gave the Eagles possession at their own 25. That's a massive turn of events caused by one of the NFL's strangest and least sensible rules.

Trailing 10-7 with less than a minute left in the first half of their Thursday Night Football matchup in Philadelphia, the Vikings had the ball in Eagles territory with a chance to at least tie the game at the break. On second down, Kirk Cousins dropped back and found his superstar wide receiver for a contested catch and a big play. Jefferson went up for a great grab at the 5, turned and made a push for the end zone. As he attempted to reach the ball across the goal line, it was knocked out and fell out of bounds for a touchback and the Vikings' third lost fumble of a wild half.

Was it a poor decision by Jefferson in the context of the rules? Yep. But at the same time, the rule itself just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. There's only one place on the field where a fumble that goes out of bounds results in a turnover.

Instead of potentially leading 14-10 at halftime, the Vikings trailed 13-7.

You can follow along for live updates during the second half here.

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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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