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Josh Allen delivers the Vikings an early Christmas present they so desperately needed ahead of the stretch run

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Dec 15, 2024 7:56 PM ET

The NFC North race was relatively clear for both the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.

The Vikings needed to win out while having the Lions lose two games, one of those being in their week 18 matchup. The Vikings got their wish on Sunday afternoon with the Buffalo Bills when they got a huge win over the Lions.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen was excellent on the day for the Bills making plays with both his arm and legs throughout the game. Allen led the Bills to six touchdown drives on the day and the game didn't feel close once the second half started.

The Vikings needed help either the Bills, Chicago Bears or San Francisco 49ers to beat the Lions before their week 18 matchup. Now, all the Vikings need to do is win out to win the NFC North. That alone is a difficult task, but with the way the Vikings have been playing, it's certainly a possibility.

Along with winning out, the Vikings likely won't have to worry about the Eagles. The tiebreaker situation will likely go down to strength of victory, which would likely have the Vikings higher with multiple wins over the Packers whereas the Eagles would have multiple wins over the Giants.

It's never easy to win your division, but the Vikings have a real chance to get there.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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