Pat McAfee made a name for himself in sports broadcasting by saying almost anything that comes to mind, but when Josh Allen approached him on live television before Monday Night Football, he made sure to protect the Buffalo Bills QB from a hot-mic moment.

The ESPN personality repeatedly shouted "We're live!" as Allen approached on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium before Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. McAfee and his crew were there to shoot his alternate ESPN Field Pass show.

McAfee repeated the warning seven times and said, "Good luck, bro," but the Bills QB faced away from the cameras, showing only the back of his helmet. The ESPN broadcaster almost led with the warning before Allen got close enough to hug him.

McAfee seemed concerned about what the quarterback might say into an open microphone, as if he were going to make a trademark joke.

The strange exchange divided NFL viewers. Some saw the warning as a courtesy, while others accused the broadcaster of making the moment about himself.

One fan complained that McAfee "ruins everything," while another branded the moment "unwatchable." A third questioned why McAfee needed to make such a spectacle of the greeting.

A small group of fans defended the action as a routine warning to Allen. Others joked he might have said something unsuitable for national TV, like during his appearance on the YouTube portion of the Pat McAfee Show.

The moment became another criticism of the "polarizing figure" who has already spent weeks fending off criticism over his behavior on ESPN's College GameDay during visit to the University of Utah last month.

Utah students made McAfee uncomfortable after the school's social media account shared a video calling him "corny" and "creepy." McAfee said the university's decision to publish those remarks made him uncomfortable and he hoped never to return.

Utah removed the video and apologized, but his reaction drew criticism that the broadcaster can't take the teasing he regularly dishes out.

Beyond an awkward television greeting, Allen also struggled against Minnesota. Buffalo led 10-6 early in the third quarter. He was intercepted, sacked three times, and finished 13-of-20 for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Fortunately for Allen, he faced Carson Wentz, who was having one of the worst NFL performances of his career. The veteran QB went 7-of-19 for 75 yards, threw two interceptions, and posted a 9.6 passer rating for his lowest in any game with a quarter left to play.