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Tom Brady passes Peyton Manning on all-time touchdown list with pass to ... a linebacker?

If you ever find yourself in a game with friends where you’re trying to stump one another with sports trivia, file this one away:

Tom Brady’s 540th touchdown pass, the one that moved him past former all-time record holder Peyton Manning but into second place behind Drew Brees, went to a linebacker named Elandon Roberts.

That’s a true statement.

Late in the third quarter of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins, Roberts was lined up at fullback on first down from the Miami 38.

He ran a wheel route and was completely ignored by the Dolphins’ defense as he ran, catching the pass from Brady and scoring the 38-yard touchdown.

Roberts, a fourth-year player, has been getting reps at fullback since October after season-ending injuries to fullbacks James Develin and Jakob Johnson. He’s also played in roughly one-third of the defensive snaps and a third of the special teams snaps, though last week against the Buffalo Bills was the first time he’s played more on offense (21 snaps) than defense (two).

He’s the 77th player to catch a touchdown from Brady, extending his NFL record, but only the second who was a defensive player: Mike Vrabel had 10 touchdown catches from Brady in his career.

But even better than Roberts’ touchdown was his reaction as he ran to the sideline to celebrate with his defensive teammates:

Rumble, big man, rumble: New England Patriots' linebacker'fullback Elandon Roberts scores a 38-yard touchdown catch. (AP/Elise Amendola)
Rumble, big man, rumble: New England Patriots' linebacker'fullback Elandon Roberts scores a 38-yard touchdown catch. (AP/Elise Amendola)

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