Aaron Jones looks like Nostradamus after his training camp message to his mother was revealed

The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the NFL this season. Minnesota is 12-2 after picking up a big division win over Chicago on Monday Night Football. Now the Vikings are tied with the Lions and Eagles at the top of the NFC playoff standings.

During the offseason, no one seemed to be calling the Vikings a contender for the NFC. But that never stopped Vikings running back Aaron Jones from believing.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero asked Jones to recall a statement he made to his mother before the start of the 2024 season.

“Not many people would have thought this Vikings team was 12-2,” Pelissero said. “But I remember you telling your mother back in camp that you thought this group was special. What did you see that everyone else missed?”

“Just a hungry group of men in the locker room,” Jones replied. “A lot of us have one-year contracts, you have to go out there and prove yourself.”

Jones had an incredible 2024 season with the Vikings. He has 215 attempts for 979 yards with five touchdowns with three games remaining. Jones is on pace to set his personal best for rushing yards in a season, with 1,121 in the 2022 season with the Packers.

“When no one believes in you except the guys around you, that’s powerful,” Jones concluded. “And if everyone believes in it, we can achieve a lot.”

If Jones continues to perform at a high level, there is no telling how far the Vikings could go in the playoffs.

Recap of the Vikings’ big Week 15 win over the Bears on MNF

The Vikings are enjoying a big win on Monday Night Football. It was an important victory that was never in doubt throughout the game.

Chicago didn’t score until the second half, when Minnesota was already 13-0.

Aaron Jones also spoke with Pelissero about how Minnesota took control of the game in the second half. They fended off a Bears comeback attempt and cruised to another NFC North victory.

“I think we just came out and started playing better in the second half,” Jones told Tom Pelissero after the game. “Started moving the ball in the second series. Our defense was ready to play all night long and took the ball away. They allowed us to go out and run the ball too. I feel like that opened up a lot of possibilities.”

The Vikings also showed a strong defense performance that contributed to the win. Minnesota sacked Caleb Williams twice, including a strip sack that led to a Vikings touchdown shortly thereafter.

Minnesota is under pressure to continue winning games to have a chance at an NFC North title.

Next up for the Vikings is a matchup against the Seahawks in Week 16.