GIF: Cardinals score one of the weirdest TDs you'll ever see

Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Zach Bauman scored one of the most bizarre touchdowns in preseason history Saturday night. The play was so unusual that one of the game's officials initially told the Minnesota Vikings there was no way it was legal. 

It all started when Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley failed to secure a shotgun snap from the center. That sparked a mass of bodies diving on the loose ball, and led to one of the most unique heads-up plays ever.

Inside the pile, Cardinals center John Estes chose to roll the ball behind him, rather than just covering it up. This allowed Bauman to pick it up and scamper in for the score.

Take a look:

[Courtesy: NFL.com]

Educated football fans are probably saying "but you aren't allowed to advance a fumble in the fourth quarter if you aren't the fumbler!" right now, but that's what makes this play so unique. It wasn't a normal fumble. Since Lindley never actually possessed the snap, the entire play is considered a live backwards pass. 

It would have been illegal for Estes to roll the ball forward (because that would have been an illegal forward pass), but replays showed that he rolled it parallel to the line of scrimmage. Thus, the play was legal and the touchdown counted.

The pre-season isn't always boring after all, is it? 

[H/T For The Win]