Packers' Jones excited for team's future: 'We're gonna be special'

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones believes his team is heading in the right direction.

"You can feel it. You can see it. The chemistry, the bond, the standard that we've set," Jones said in an interview for the club's website. "I feel like with the standard we've set, we know what our expectations are when we come back next year. Our standard is high."

He added: "I feel like we're gonna be dangerous. We're gonna be special."

Green Bay exceeded expectations this season by winning a playoff game and coming within reach of the NFC Championship. The Packers were the youngest team to make the playoffs since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978, according to StatMuse.

After a 3-6 start to the season, the Packers rallied to win six of their last eight games and secure the final wild-card spot in the conference. Quarterback Jordan Love elevated his play to new heights, throwing for 2,150 yards with 18 touchdowns and only one interception during that stretch. He ranked second in the NFL among all quarterbacks in EPA per play from Weeks 11-18, according to Ben Baldwin's database.

The Packers are set to carry over their late-season success into 2024. Most of the team's starters on both sides of the ball will return, including Jones, who is under contract for the next year. The 29-year-old had arguably the best stretch of his career late in the season, totaling over 100 rushing yards in the club's final five games, including 108 yards in the divisional round.

"I guess I'm aging like wine," Jones said. "I'm only getting better with time. I feel like I'm just stepping into my prime."

Green Bay has five top-100 picks in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.