Inside The Vikings

Paul Allen's call of Brosmer's pick-six disaster is as good as expected

The Vikings haven't given Allen much to get excited about in recent weeks.
Will Ragatz|
Nov 30, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) runs back for an interception during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field.
Nov 30, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) runs back for an interception during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field. | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Vikings

Another week, another Vikings disaster for longtime KFAN Radio play-by-play broadcaster Paul Allen to call. Last week, it was Myles Price's punt return gaffe, among other things that went wrong in a 23-6 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field. Sunday's game somehow managed to be much worse, highlighted by an all-time Vikings lowlight from Max Brosmer.

By now, you've seen the play. It was 4th and 1 in the low red zone, with the Vikings trailing 3-0. Kevin O'Connell elected to go for it, but Brosmer's rollout was immediately blown up by the Seahawks' DeMarcus Lawrence. And then he made a bad situation much worse.

"Brosmer rolls out to the right, he's in trouble, he's gonna throw the ball up and it's picked off!" Allen said on the broadcast. "Awful decision by Max Brosmer, and this is going to be a defensive touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks!"

"Max Brosmer, falling to the field, decided to underhand it to absolutely nobody except Ernest Jones."

Allen's most iconic call ever might be his call of the Minneapolis Miracle, but unfortunately, many of his other greatest hits involve Vikings misery. The Nate Poole catch in 2003, Brett Favre's interception in the 2009 NFC title game, and Blair Walsh's miss to end the 2015 season come to mind.

No matter how bad things get for the Vikings, Allen remains a source of optimism and catharsis for fans. Few people deserve a Super Bowl victory like he does.

O'Connell on the play call

After the Vikings' shutout loss, O'Connell explained the decision to not only go for it on 4th down in that situation, but to dial up a rollout pass play while needing a yard. The gist of it is that he wanted to capitalize on the momentum of a takeaway and get a touchdown, and that he called a pass because the Vikings hadn't been running the ball well. At the same time, he acknowledged that he should've called a better play in that moment.

On Monday, he expressed similar sentiments.

"Ultimately, I didn't like the play call," O'Connell said. "It's totally on me in that moment. In that moment, we better have a schematically more sound play. And that's totally on me. It's not on Josh (Oliver), it's not on Max, it's not anybody. That was on me, and it was a massive play in the game."

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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