With their first playoff appearance since 2009, the Vikings have had ample opportunity this week to reflect on the catalysts of their impressive turnaround this season. With so many players showing notable growth, it'd take awhile to complete a full roll call. But Jared Allen delivers an unsolicited shout out to safety Jamarca Sanford, whose whose behind-the-scenes push to get better this season has been underrated.

Said Allen: "I've seen [him] different, in his preparation and his attitude and his focus of where he wants to go. Last year he was out there for us, and he had the potential to make big hits. This year he's been an impact player on our defense."

Sanford is proud of his maturation. After losing his starting job to Mistral Raymond in training camp, he was forced back into a leading role after Raymond dislocated his ankle in Week 3. Sanford played so well in the six games Raymond missed that he earned the opportunity to keep starting with the two safeties splitting time over the final seven games.

Sanford credits veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield with teaching him how to be a more complete player.

"Like I tell a lot of people, last year was my first year starting," Sanford said. "And I was just really happy to be out there, still shocked that I'm in the NFL and I'm starting. And I was just out there on my natural ability. This year, I've gone up a level. This league isn't about how athletic you are, it's how smart you are. How well can you study film and break a team down. When you know stuff that's going to happen before it happens, it's incredible. I learned a lot from Antoine. And the thing I put in my mind this offseason is that I've never been the weak link of whatever part of the team I'm on. I want to be at my best for what I do or at least live up to the standards of the guys around me. And one thing about this defense here, you can't be the weak link. They'll find someone else to do your job."

Sanford shared a few other thoughts with the Star Tribune this week. Among the more notable …

On what was going on beneath the pile when he recovered a third quarter Aaron Rodgers fumble last week …
"Under that pile, there's a lot going on. You might get a little punch in the side, some pinching. Guys crawling trying to get to the ball. I was making sure we came out of there with that ball. Luckily we did. That was a big-time turnover at a critical time. I had it at first and then it bounced out of my arm. It was really a struggle under the pile. Eventually, I heard Everson yelling, 'I got ya! I got ya! I got ya!' At first, it was and somebody else had it halfway. But Everson was under there pulling off arms. And by the time he pulled that guy's arm, I finally got total control of it and it was time to get up."

On carrying Adrian Peterson off the field after Sunday's win …
"That adrenaline was pumping. Adrian deserved that. I wanted him to know our appreciation. After the season he had, he deserved to be carried off. Like I said, my adrenaline was pumping. And when I did set him down, I was pretty tired. He's pretty heavy. … This is a legend right in front of your eyes. I've heard of the great backs of all-time – Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson, all the greats. To see one with my own eyes is special. … When A.D. is running, he's just different. He plays like a guy on defense. He's always loose. And if you hit him hard one time, you have to come back and do it again the whole game. Some backs, you hit them in the mouth one time, they start tiptoeing. Not Adrian. He just keeps coming."

On whether he still communicates with close friend Percy Harvin, who has been absent from the Vikings' facility since being put on injured reserve in early December …
"Percy and me are always texting. I'm making sure he's still good, keeping his head up and reminding him to be ready to come back strong next year. He loves the success we're having. He tells me he's really proud of us. I know it was hard for him [to go on I.R.] He wants to be with this team, helping this team win. But unluckily he got hurt. That's part of the game. So all he can do is sit back and watch. He just has to be ready to recover from that injury and be ready for next year."