Viking DE Jarred Allen falls short of making the record books against Bears - NFL News
The Vikings equalled the worst franchise regular season record and Jarred Allen fell just short of breaking ex-New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan’s sack record in a season with 22.
The Vikings had nothing to play for in the game as they went through one of the worst seasons in franchise history ending with a 3-13 record this year. Jarred Allen on the other hand had something to achieve this year and came very close to breaking Michael
Strahan’s 22.5 sack record.
The defensive end was not all too ecstatic at falling just a measly 0.5 behind Strahan and likened it to coming second in the college prom.
"It's like being runner-up at the prom," Allen said. "The crown just doesn't weigh as much."
The defensive end sacked the Bears stand in quarterback Josh McCown 3.5 times to get the closest to the record but the Bears were on to him from then on.
"After I got the last sack," Allen said, "the next thing I know, they started bringing two tight ends and a tackle (to block me)."
The Bears won the game 17-13 and stopped Allen from reaching a personal milestone by the smallest of margins. The Bears victory was however, too little too late as they were out of the playoffs picture after going on a five game losing streak since week
11.
The Vikings fans maybe a bit happy that Allen did not get the record because he would have done something clearly outlandish if he achieved the milestone. The defensive end said as much after the game saying
"I probably would have thrown my helmet into the crowd," Allen said, "jumped up, ran up, kissed my wife and my baby in the suite, walked into the locker room and quit. No, I might have done some turf angels. Probably would have cried.”
At the least he knows that the record is achievable.
Michael Strahan made the record in 2001 racking up 22.5 sacks however, the record sack occurred under some controversy. Legendary quarterback and ex-Green Bay Packers Brett Favre slid down during a game against the Giants and Strahan easily made the sack
to set the record. Unluckily for Allen he did not have any such luck and Josh McCown did not look in the mood to help him out.
The Vikings will now look to rebuild for the new 2012 season and hope that another repeat like this year does not occur.
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