Justin Jefferson ended the longest touchdown drought of his career on Sunday, a result made possible thanks to a bizarre special teams penalty against the Falcons.

Jefferson scored the touchdown on a pass from Sam Darnold in the second quarter, giving the Vikings a 14-7 lead over Atlanta. The 12-yard strike was Jefferson’s sixth touchdown of the season and his first since Week 6 against the Lions. For Jefferson, this ended a series of six games without points.

The touchdown would not have occurred had it not been for a drive-extension penalty on Atlanta’s special teams. The Falcons stopped the Vikings on third-and-15 early in the drive to force a field goal attempt. Will Reichard was good from 39 yards on fourth-and-15, but the Vikings opted to take the points off the board after Falcons defensive lineman Kentavius ​​Street was called for a stop.

The penalty was a mystery when it was awarded. And it’s unusual for a defensive hold to be called for on a field goal. The penalty is generally assessed in the second round when offensive players run downfield. Of course, there were no downfield runners on Minnesota’s field goal attempt.

When officials first announced Street, they initially failed to identify Street as the offending player, and Falcons head coach Raheem Morris desperately pleaded for an explanation.

Street lined up opposite Minnesota right-back David Quessenberry and immediately fell to the turf toward Quessenberry’s legs on the play. The replay on the Fox broadcast didn’t clarify, but the penalty was called and resulted in an automatic first down for the Vikings. Three plays later, Darnold found Jefferson in the end zone and Jefferson’s touchdown drought was over.