The Minnesota Vikings suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, losing 27-9 in the wild-card round. The team’s radio announcer, Paul Allen, sounded frustrated with quarterback Sam Darnold as he was sacked nine times by the L.A. defense.
Allen’s calls became increasingly muted as the game wore on, reflecting his disappointment with the Vikings’ performance. By the seventh sack, he was resigned to the reality of another disappointing season ending for Minnesota. The ninth sack, however, prompted Allen and his broadcast partner Pete Bercich to question why Darnold wasn’t throwing the ball.
Allen’s comments were not surprising, given his history of calling heartbreaking Vikings moments. He has witnessed numerous instances of disappointment over the years, including Blair Walsh’s missed kick against the Seahawks and Brett Favre’s NFC championship game interception.
Despite this, Allen remains hopeful that he will one day get to call a Vikings’ triumph, as they continue their search for their first Super Bowl in franchise history. The loss marks another chapter in Minnesota’s sports cursed history.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2025/01/14/vikings-radio-paul-allen-sam-darnold-sacks-announcer/77698104007