Aaron Jones Explodes for Career-Best Game in Packers Win
Aaron Jones, toning down the constant noise of his contract talks, raced away with a career-best game on Sunday in the Packers' 42-21 win over the Lions.
The El Pasoan set personal bests in single-game and career-highs for all-purpose yards (236) and rushing yards (168), along with three touchdowns in a special day for Green Bay's home opener.
Not to mention his 168 rushing yards and 68 receiving yards helped him secure the top running back score in fantasy football this week.
Sunday's performance follows Jones' 76 total yard, one-touchdown outing against the Vikings last week.
To start off his huge day, Jones caught a 7-yard touchdown pass and celebrated on a Lambeau Leap in empty stands. This touchdown was coincidently set up by a 22-yard carry by, you guessed it, Jones.
UTEP's all-time leading rusher in program history powered through the second half to help lead the dominant win by Green Bay. On the first play of the second half, Jones took a 75-yard burst all the way for a touchdown. It was the longest run of his three-year NFL career.
Oh, and by the way, the man has hands too!
To help extend the Packers' lead, Jones raced for a late 14-yard touchdown to cap off his spectacular day and lift the team to their second win of the season.
"A number of things go into it, but I do think I came out and started the season the right way," Jones told media members after the game. "Just got to continue to work to reach. I still don't feel like I have reached my full potential, so [I'll] continue to work to get there."
"He doesn't need much of a hole," right tackle Rick Wagner said. "He can get through there, and something really special about him is the way he can break arm tackles. In the NFL, you've got to be able to break those arm tackles because the D-linemen are so skilled, you know they're going to be reaching for him. But that really doesn't faze him. He can get to the second level no problem."
"I think it's just the growth in me, and just continuing to work and not being satisfied with anything," Jones said. "You have a good season last year, but you're only as good as last year. So you have to come out and outperform that. There's a lot of ways to better your game and continue to work."
Jones and the Packers will face the Saints (1-0) for Sunday Night Football next week in New Orleans. Green Bay (2-0) sits alongside Chicago (2-0) as the two undefeated teams in the NFC North.