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Souhan: Plenty of Minnesota connections in NFL playoffs


Minnesotans haven't been able to watch the Vikings in this year's postseason, but there are several familiar names remaining in the race.


Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune spotlighted Minnesota connections in the playoffs, starting with Bills Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier. Frazier was part of the Vikings coaching staff from 2007-13, including as head coach from 2010 (interim) and 2011-13. Frazier has experienced significant success in coordinator roles, and his time in Buffalo is no exception; Souhan pointed out that Frazier's defense scored one of Buffalo's two touchdowns in the Bills 17-3 defeat of the Ravens Sunday.


Former Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs, the star of the Minneapolis Miracle in Minnesota's defeat of New Orleans in the Divisional Round game on Jan. 14, 2018, has sparked Buffalo's offense.


Souhan also pointed out the connection to a member of Kansas City's coaching staff. He wrote:


Long before he became the Chiefs offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy was the Vikings running backs coach who drove Adrian Peterson batty with his detailed critiques. … Bieniemy has the best résumé of any NFL head coaching candidate. He won a ring 11 months ago and on Sunday called plays that allowed Chad Henne to run out the clock on another playoff victory after Patrick Mahomes left with a concussion.


The Browns were eliminated by the Chiefs on Sunday, but Souhan pointed out the success of Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, who took the helm in Cleveland after serving as the Vikings offensive coordinator in 2019 (and holding various roles on Minnesota's coaching staff since joining Minnesota as an assistant to former Head Coach Brad Childress in 2006).


Don't forget about Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the son of former Twins pitcher Pat Mahomes, whom Souhan called "one of the Twins' most polite players," as well as Buccaneers teammates Tyler Johnson and Antoine Winfield, Jr., who played together at the University of Minnesota. Not to mention, Winfield's father played for the Vikings from 2004-12.


Now, the two rookies are headed with Tampa Bay to the NFC Championship game next weekend.


[Johnson and Winfield] had cameos in the Bucs 30-20 victory over New Orleans, with Johnson making a spectacular fourth-quarter catch and Winfield forcing a fumble that Tampa Bay turned into the tying touchdown.