Aaron Jones’ best game in a 34-7 Vikings win on Sunday, in which he ran for 102 yards (including a 39-yard dash) and caught five passes for 46 yards, including a touchdown, might have been a seemingly innocuous third -Yard carry was on the first play of the second half.

During the game, wide receiver Justin Jefferson was on the sideline for the Vikings. When quarterback Sam Darnold turned right and threw a pitch to Jones, Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. immediately charged toward the Vikings running back.

But instead of being dropped for a 2- or 3-yard loss on the play, Jones sensed danger immediately and made a quick cut to the left to avoid Stingley. The Texans’ corner got an arm on his leg, but Jones kept his balance and turned the play into a win by hitting second-and-7.

This was followed by an 18-yard completion to Jalen Nailor. The Vikings didn’t even have to face a third down on a drive that ended with a touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

It was the kind of play that led me to proclaim emphatically and perhaps controversially on Tuesday’s Daily Delivery podcast that Jones is the best all-around defender the Vikings have had since I started this one over 30 years ago team to watch.

Minnesota Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer correctly noted that Adrian Peterson was one of the greatest pure running backs of all time and that Dalvin Cook was an excellent player. He thinks I might be overdoing Jones when I compare him to a glass of water for a thirsty person in the desert after the Vikings have had so many problems with the running game lately.

But if the definition is based all around backs – instincts, skill and explosiveness to run the ball, catch the ball out of the backfield and make blitzes – Jones is already at the top of the list for me, even taking recency into account Bias.

The sheer numbers, including 325 combined rushing and receiving yards during the Vikings’ 3-0 start, tell part of the story.