The Minnesota Vikings‘ playoff hopes hinge on two crucial games against top NFC North rivals.
The Vikings will host the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, December 29, in their final home game of the season. A win would move Minnesota to a 14-2 record, setting up a Week 18 showdown at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions for the chance to claim both the division and conference titles.
On Tuesday, the Vikings made an announcement that could boost their chances of achieving these goals.
“The Vikings revealed that linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. has been designated for return and will resume practicing,” wrote Craig Peters, senior editor of Vikings.com. “This move triggers a 21-day evaluation period for Pace, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 12 against Chicago.”
While the team has three weeks to get Pace back into action, the goal is for him to be ready to play against Green Bay in just a few days, according to Chris Gates of SB Nation’s Daily Norseman.
Pace’s return is critical, especially for defending against the Packers’ strong running game. Minnesota’s run defense, once the best in the league, has seen some struggles in Pace’s absence, though it remains among the NFL’s top defenses. With Green Bay’s recent emphasis on the run game, Pace’s presence should provide a significant boost.
The Packers have relied heavily on running back Josh Jacobs, who has had an impressive season, rushing for 1,216 yards and 13 touchdowns, in addition to 340 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Pace, who has started 20 of 26 games in his NFL career, is a key player in the Vikings’ defense. While he has shown some weaknesses in pass coverage, he excels as a run defender and pass rusher, with strong Pro Football Focus grades. This season, Pace has recorded 32 solo tackles, 17 assists, 26 stops, 15 quarterback pressures, 3 sacks, and a fumble return for a touchdown.
As a rookie in 2023, the undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati also impressed with 102 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble. What’s more, Pace is a fantastic value for the Vikings, playing on a three-year contract worth just $2.7 million in total.
While quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense have garnered much of the spotlight this season, analysts have largely credited the Vikings’ defense for their unexpected success, a performance that could propel the team to the Super Bowl in New Orleans next February.
