Adrian Peterson Comments on Super Bowl Aspirations, Vikings' Mentality

Coming off of a year in which he led the league in rushing and the Minnesota Vikings to their first NFC North title since 2009, running back Adrian Peterson expects to win the Super Bowl next season.

"We have a long way to go, but we have the pieces of what it takes to accomplish that," Peterson told ESPN.com's Ben Goessling on Wednesday. "So there's nothing wrong with saying it."  

With a young quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater under center, the Vikings didn't have the flashiest passing offense, but with a unit headlined by Peterson, it didn't have to be.

Instead, Bridgewater ensured the Vikings were one of just seven teams in the league to throw under 10 interceptions, giving Peterson the opportunity to make the big plays. He averaged 4.5 yards over a league-leading 327 carries, which included 11 touchdowns. 

The 31-year-old (birthday was in March) proved he was not slowing down with age, via the NFL:

But Peterson knows the clock is ticking and that the Vikings need to mount a serious campaign toward a Super Bowl soon: "I don't see an end in my future anywhere soon, but of course, I know I'm coming around to that last lap. I'm itching to get a couple [Super Bowls] before I'm done playing this game, so we need to start immediately."

Along with a defense that was fifth in the league last season, the Vikings have the pieces on paper needed to get back to the postseason, a place Peterson has only been four times over his first nine seasons.

He wants to make sure the right kind of teammates are surrounding him too, saying, "If any other guy on this team don't feel that way, we should trade him and bring somebody in that feels that [we can win a Super Bowl]."

Of course, there are some powerful teams in the NFC that will have something to say about Peterson's Super Bowl hopes. The Seattle Seahawks—the team that narrowly defeated Minnesota in the Wild Card Round last season, 10-9—had the league's best rushing defense and held Peterson to just 85 yards over two games in 2015. 

Closer to the Vikings in the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers are a team that looks locked in with a rejuvenated quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who will have his favorite target back in wide receiver Jordy Nelson after he suffered a torn ACL last preseason. 

So if Peterson wants to make it to Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, he will need to have another remarkable season, setting the tone for a Vikings team that has never won a Super Bowl. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.