Sam Darnold, ugly Vikings loss broke teams iconic radio voice: Throw it, man!

Monday night’s wild-card round disappointment for the Vikings seemed to be felt viscerally by the voice of the team.Paul Allen, the team’s iconic radio voice on KFXN, felt all of the emotions in what became an ugly 27-9 loss that saw quarterback Sam Darnold get sacked nine times for 82 yards.Allen, the radio voice since 2002, has never been shy about showing his displeasure, anger and disappointment over the years, including memorable calls on Brett Favre’s late interception in the 2010 NFC title game, Blair Walsh’s missed chip-shot field goal in the 2016 wild-card round and when then-Cardinals quarterback — and now Vikings QB coach — Josh McCown eliminated Minnesota in the final seconds of the last regular season game in 2003.And, on Monday night, Darnold was at the center of Allen’s latest call.

With under four minutes left in the second quarter and the Vikings already down 17-3, Darnold danced around the pocket and held onto the ball, hoping for someone to get open downfield.But that didn’t happen, and Darnold was eventually sacked.

Allen was none too pleased.“He’s holding it too long! Throw it, man!” Allen said in disbelief.

“At the 25-yard line he’s sacked for a fifth time.It was the story of the game for Darnold who was sacked six different times after at least 4.4 seconds after the snap, according to Next Gen Stats.At halftime, Allen shared his thoughts on X in what he called a “drunk” game.“This game is drunk.

Idiot call by the Hussey crew nullifying a Cashman scoop and score, Rams rough Ryan Wright in a punt, free first down Minnesota, then Sam throws a pick,” Allen wrote.“It’s 10-3 Rams second quarter.”By the time Darnold was sacked for the ninth time late in the fourth quarter and the game out of reach, the radio booth’s call was significantly more subdued, with the Vikings’ fortunes all but sealed at that point.Darnold, heading to free agency, admitted to “mistakes” after the game, and head coach Kevin...