Vikings Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was selected NFC Defensive Player of the Week

A Minnesota Viking has earned a weekly honor for his play against the Raiders.

The NFL announced rookie linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 14.

In the win over Las Vegas, Pace had a career-high 13 tackles, one sack and his first career interception, which sealed the win. The Vikings say Pace joined DeMeco Ryans as the only rookies to put up that stat line since 1994.

The undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati has played in all of Minnesota’s games this season, making nine starts. Through Week 14, he leads all NFL rookies with 67 tackles and joins Devon Witherspoon, the No. 5 pick in the draft, as the only rookies with at least 2 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.

The honor also makes Pace just the second Vikings rookie linebacker to win the weekly award and just the fifth Vikings rookie to earn the weekly defensive honor ever.

The Vikings are back in action Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Week 15 NFC North predictions: The Lions aim to get back on track, as the rest of the division battles for a playoff spot

The NFC North competition is heating up, with the whole division still mathematically alive for the playoffs with four weeks to go. Here are our Week 15 predictions:

Green Bay Packers (6-7) against Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7): The Packers have 14 players on their injury list heading into their game against the Buccaneers. However, one position group has been particularly severely impacted by injuries: wide receiver. With injuries to Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), Jayden Reed (ankle), and Christian Watson (hamstring), the Packers’ top three wideout options are in doubt. The Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur, on the other hand, aren’t citing a lack of personnel as an excuse.

“That’s the nature of our business and you gotta get other guys ready to play,” LaFleur said via the Packers. “We’re not the only team that goes through that.”

While LaFleur’s comments are admirable, they don’t win football games. Being without their top three options at wideout puts the Packers at a distinct disadvantage against the Buccaneers’ 30th-ranked pass defense (264 YPG).

If quarterback Jordan Love and the offense fail to find a rhythm or turn the ball over three times like they did a week ago in a loss to the lowly New York Giants, that would put more pressure on an inconsistent Packers defense. In their 24-22 loss to the Giants in Week 14, the unit couldn’t slow down QB Tommy DeVito when it mattered most. A matchup against scrappy veteran Baker Mayfield likely won’t provide much relief.

Cleveland Browns (8-5) at Chicago Bears (5-8): Don’t look now, but the Bears are just one game behind the Packers for the last NFC playoff place. Furthermore, as the Bears climb, they may be catching the Browns at the ideal time.

The Browns beat the Jaguars in Week 14, but the enchantment can only last so long with a fresh-off-the-couch 38-year-old Joe Flacco and a beat-up roster. The Browns have 14 players listed on their injury report, including offensive tackles Jedrick Wills (knee) and Dawand Jones (knee), who are both gone for the season.

The Bears’ defense, which has allowed only 17 points per game while forcing 11 turnovers in their last four games, should benefit from the matchup. On the other side of the ball, QB Justin Fields is doing enough to help the Bears win two straight games for the first time this season as they prepare to face the Browns in Week 15. Fields has completed 66.6 percent of his throws with two touchdowns and no interceptions since returning from a thumb injury in Week 11, while also gaining 221 rushing yards (5.26 YPA) and scoring on the ground.

The Browns defense is tough, ranked first in yards against. If the Bears can play mistake-free football, though, they have more than a decent chance of pulling off the upset.

Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) vs. Minnesota Vikings (7-6): In Week 14, the Vikings benched Joshua Dobbs in favor of Nick Mullens, who delivered a game-winning drive against the Las Vegas Raiders. He’ll take the field against the Bengals in a game with playoff implications.

While Mullens is unlikely to scare opposition defenders, he does have a chance to do so in Week 15. Not only will he face standout wideout Justin Jefferson, but he’ll also face a Bengals defense that has allowed more explosive plays (96) than any other team in the league, according to Arjun Menon of Pro Football Focus. The Vikings, on the other hand, have given up the fewest points (17).

On defense, the Vikings welcome back Jake Browning, who has guided the club to two straight victories. Under Brian Flores, the Vikings defense has thrived, limiting six of their last eight opponents to under 20 points while allowing only 12 in the last two games.

Detroit Lions (9-4) vs. Denver Broncos (7-6): The Broncos and Lions approach Week 15 with opposing goals. The Broncos, formerly the league’s laughingstock, have won six of their last seven games after starting the season 1-5, while the Lions have lost two of their last three after starting 8-2. The Broncos need a win, and the Lions could be easy prey.

Earlier this week, Lions coach Dan Campbell warned that Sean Payton and the Broncos would want to humiliate his team. To escape that destiny, they’ll need their attack to find its groove again and their defense to step up.

QB Jared Goff has struggled to lead the Lions offense over the last two weeks, averaging 187 yards per game with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Over the first 11 games of the season, the 29-year-old signal-caller averaged 279 yards, 18 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Goff and company have struggled recently, but they can capitalize on an improving but still susceptible pass defense. Meanwhile, even after their Week 3 thrashing of the Miami Dolphins, the Broncos are still allowing the 10th most rushing yards this season, an area the Lions could exploit.

The Lions’ defense has given up 26 points or more in six straight games while forcing only four turnovers. They will, however, face QB Russell Wilson, who has taken the fourth-most sacks (38) in the NFL.