In the world of American sports, few traditions are as sacred as the singing of the national anthem before a game. However, a recent NFL matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles, streamed on Amazon Prime, has sparked controversy and frustration among viewers due to the absence of this time-honored tradition.

The absence of the national anthem broadcast during the Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles game on Amazon Prime led to an outpouring of frustration and disappointment on various social media platforms. Twitter, in particular, became a sounding board for fans and viewers to express their sentiments.

One Twitter user wrote, “#ThursdayNightFootball I’d rather see the National Anthem than ‘Let’s get ready to rumble’.” This sentiment reflects the belief held by many that the national anthem should take precedence over other pre-game rituals.

Another Twitter user expressed their annoyance with Fox, stating, “Is anyone else annoyed that Fox doesn’t have enough class to broadcast the national anthem at the beginning of the Eagles game, but instead plays commercials for the entire time? At least you can listen to it on Merrill and Mike’s broadcast. No respect!” This tweet highlights the expectation of respect and tradition associated with the national anthem.

The frustration continued to mount as another user tweeted, “Where’s the National anthem??? DISGRACE.” Clearly, many fans believe that the omission of the national anthem from the broadcast is a departure from the expected standard.

Calls for Action: The absence of the national anthem did not go unnoticed by influential voices. One tweet tagged the NFL, NFLonPrime, and the Department of Defense (@NFL, @NFLonPrime, @DeptofDefense) and stated, “disappointed in your failure to show the national anthem. DoD should probably deny flyovers until you return the anthem broadcast.” This suggests that the omission of the national anthem is considered a matter of national significance by some.

Another user expressed their discontent by contrasting the absence of the national anthem with another pre-game ritual, saying, “So no National Anthem on TNF? But we’ll ‘get ready to rumble?’ Got it. 🙄😡 @NFL @amazon @NFLonPrime.” This tweet encapsulates the frustration of viewers who believe that the national anthem should take precedence over other introductions.