NFL Week 11: 3 Reasons Why...

Week 10 was simply a remarkable week for the National Football League. We had Seattle beating Baltimore, we had touchdown celebrations involving the other team's cheerleaders and the entire NFC West winning for the first time in 258 weeks. Simply incredible.

Week 11 throws up some cracking games and some games that well, you simply don't want to bother watching. If you're thinking of tipping or having a bet on anything this week, you need to know who's hot and who's not this week—so your hard-earned dollars don't go to waste.

Hey ho, let's go!

Buffalo Beats Miami

1. The talk around the Miami Dolphins is that they're back. Hang on. They win two games in a row, and they're now a threat to the Patriots and the Jets?

Buffalo on the other hand, are coming off a two-game combined flogging from the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys, but Miami was hardly convincing against a Washington side without a clear direction or offense.

Reggie Bush put up 47 yards against the Redskins defense and was the highest rusher of the game while Rex Grossman was the highest passer in the game with 215 yards. Don't give me that the Dolphins are back. Not yet anyway.

2. Buffalo's defense outplays that of the Miami Dolphins. I know the Bills have been outplayed and outclassed for two straight weeks now, but the Miami defense poses no threat to Buffalo.

Fred Jackson will be a great threat for Miami, whose solid run defense—allowing only 105.1 yards per game—will be tested and will have no answers to Jackson. The Bills' six 40-plus throws and three 40-plus runs will test the Miami secondary, which has allowed far too many 40-plus attempts.

3. Miami will have no answer on the scoreboard to the Bills. Again, it's quite simplistic, but Miami simply won't be able to match the power of Buffalo. The Fins—who supposedly outclassed the Redskins—put 20 points on them, showcasing the 17.6 points per game they're averaging for the year.

Buffalo is averaging seven points more and has scored over 10 touchdowns more than Miami. The Bills will be out to avenge the losses of the past few weeks and highlight why if anybody is to beat the front-runners, it will be them and not Miami.

Buffalo by 12

Jacksonville Beats Cleveland

1. In what has been a disappointing season for both sides, the Jags will see this game as another chance to flex their defensive muscle. For what they lack in offensive power, the defense has been incredible really, allowing only 189.3 passing yards at the league's second-lowest average of 6.4 yards per catch.

Add to that only 107.1 yards against the run and 18.4 points per game, the Jacksonville defense outshines that of the Browns offense. Which was not that hard mind you, considering the Browns average 14.6 points per game and are ranked 24th in passing and 30th in rushing. You get the picture.

2. Colt McCoy has an unfortunate habit that will not help the Browns in this one. See, Jacksonville loves close games and can close out close games with a win. McCoy on the other hand, cannot.

Last week's loss to the Rams was a key example of this. Whilst it may not have entirely been his fault, the Browns offense—which he leads—cannot deal with tight games. And Jacksonville will not beat them by 50; it will be close, but not close enough for the Browns.

3. I'll start this with the fact that I struggled for a third fact here. There's really not a lot in this game. Unless you like field goals, then there's a lot to love. In a game that could be decided by three or six or nine or...you get the picture, kickers will be critical. And Jacksonville's Josh Scobee and his 94 percent beats Cleveland's Phil Dawson and his 84 percent. It's simple math right?

Jacksonville by 4

New York Giants Beat Philadelphia

1. When Philadelphia lost to Chicago, we said Chicago were good. But when they lost to Arizona, we knew something was going on for the Eagles. A tough game looms here against the Giants who were courageous but came up short against San Francisco last week.

Eli Manning is playing his career-best football, and his team is rallying behind him. That's why my first reason comes down to a quarterback matchup—Manning against Vick. You know you're season is not great when the famous John Skelton outthrows you in a game, and that's the story of Michael Vick.

Vick's 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions compared to Manning's 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions? Give me Eli at home any day.

2. Vick is coming against the Giants defense—that is, if he even plays. Assuming he does, he's playing with broken ribs and against the team leading the NFL in sacks; that's not a good thing. The run game that has got Philadelphia to first in the NFL with 170-plus yards per game will be tested because Vick is not going to take on the line with his ribs.

LeSean McCoy can't carry the team that much. Add to that Vick is playing against a New York side that has only allowed 10 passing touchdowns with 11 interceptions and only three 40-plus yard throws. The Eagles offense is good, but it's going to crumble against a Giants' side that loves to smell blood.

3. The Eagles have nothing to lose, whereas the Giants have everything to lose. A loss to the Eagles puts Dallas right back in the divisional race and ruins the hard work the Giants did at the start of the season.

While many will see the nothing-to-lose attitude of the Eagles as a good thing, keep in mind this team has the ability to implode on itself and throw games away for itself. Manning and the Giants are too switched on and too geared up after last week's heartbreaking loss to let this one slip.

New York Giants by 14

Detroit Beats Carolina

1. After their brilliant start to the year, Detroit's playoff chances are under a little more pressure—especially after the pummeling they received from Chicago last week. For Carolina, Cam Newton has been the story of the year so far for his skill and overall passing yards, just not as much for his wins.

The Panthers were brought back to earth last week against Tennessee, and both teams with their backs up against the wall should make this a good one. I like Detroit in this one for their ability to respond after a loss and the way Matthew Stafford can get his team over the line in a close one. Newton's Panthers have also lost five games this year by less than seven—a factor that could be crucial in a close game.

2. Stafford will win over the Carolina defense. Whilst evenly matched in passing yards per game, Detroit has almost twice the amount of passing touchdowns, while throwing less interceptions.

The Carolina secondary is going to cause Stafford no problems here as they've only picked five interceptions this year and have struggled in sacks as well (17 total for the year). Strong at the wide receiver, Stafford will look to be methodical in working the ball downfield, all while having the long threat as an option.

The Panthers pose no threat to Stafford. Also, while allowing similar rushing yards—both teams around the 130-yard mark per game—Carolina has allowed three times the amount of rushing touchdowns than Detroit. The defense is leaking and a fired-up Lions outfit could tear it to shreds.

3. The Detroit defense will also get back some of the credit that it lost last week, and even against Cam and the Panthers (which would be a good band name), they should be fine here.

As mentioned before, the rush defense has been relatively strong, but in the air, the Lions are even stronger, allowing only 184 yards per game. Adding to that, they're also leading the league with only 17 20-plus yard throws and three 40-plus-yard throws. Mix with salt and add 26 sacks for the season and you've got the recipe for a Detroit victory here as Carolina loses a close one again.

Lions by 6

Tennessee Beats Atlanta

1. Tennessee's offense exploded last week as all departments finally seemed to click in the same week, running all over the Carolina Panthers. It was the emergence of Chris Johnson, combined with Matt Hasselbeck's solid play that built the platform for a strong win, and this platform will need to be solid as a rock if they are to win again this week.

The Atlanta Falcons were strong in last week's overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints, with Matt Ryan throwing for 350-plus yards, and Michael Turner running for 100. But they still lost. This home game will be critical if they plan on reaching a wild-card spot, as it appears for now, that New Orleans have the division locked up.

With both teams at 5-4, this could be a tight game, and as always, I'm keen to look throughout the year as a key example to show the Titans will be solid in tight games. The tight win over Baltimore and Denver—teams that love to keep it close—as well as a gallant performance against an ever-improving Cincinnati side show the Titans are gearing up for a street fight in this one and are more than ready for a tough one.

2. Now, let's get into the good stuff. I'm keen to go with the Titans D over the Falcons D in this one. Passing-wise, Tennessee only has a 30-or-so-yard advantage but have only allowed 26 passes of 20-plus yards and only two of 40-plus yards. For the Falcons, it's the six 40-plus yard throws that are alarming.

And whilst the Falcons defense is third in the league with only 90.3 yards allowed, they're allowing the same amount of running touchdowns as the Cleveland Browns and the St. Louis Rams, ranked 30th and 32nd respectively. Compare with the fact that the Titans have allowed the second-fewest rushing touchdowns in the league, and the mighty Atlanta defense isn't looking so strong after all.

3. I'm also with the Tennessee offense in this one and am expecting this to be another breakout game for Chris Johnson and an even bigger game for Hasselbeck. In what could come down to a big third-down conversion or a clutch throw, Hasselbeck will be more equipped behind his offensive line to make that play—especially if Johnson is in the picture.

Ryan has thrown four more interceptions than Hasselbeck, and behind an O-line that's allowing the league's second-lowest amount of sacks, he'll have the time to drive well and put the Titans in a great position to win this game and keep their wild-card hopes alive.

It's an upset in my books, and they should get home.

Tennessee by 2

Seattle Beats St. Louis

1. I'm considering taking a poll as to which was more unbelievable: the Rams beating the Saints after they won by 50 or the Seahawks taking down the Ravens after they swept the Steelers.

This game is looming as nothing flashy on the table, but sometimes, those are the best ones to watch, as divisional rivals go head to head. Let's not kid ourselves. Neither of these teams is going to the playoffs, but it does pose an interesting game for us to analyze. And I'm with Seattle, firstly because of Tarvaris Jackson.

I rubbished him a few weeks ago (just before he beat Baltimore I think) without properly looking at his numbers. His 207.9 yards for seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions doesn't scream brilliant, but he's doing it behind an O-line that's already given up 30 sacks. Thirty. But when he does have time in the pocket...319 yards against Atlanta, 323 yards against Cincinnati and 166 yards in the first half before going off injured against the Giants.

The Rams won't threaten Jackson in the pocket as much, and so, that 207 number will be pushed a lot higher in this one.

2. After the Rams destroyed the Saints behind Steven Jackson and his running exploits, they look set to do the same against the Seahawks who, with Marshawn Lynch, won't mind running back either. And in this running game, I'm with the Seahawks all the way.

Lynch is rushing for 20 yards per game less but is averaging just as many 20-plus yard and 40-plus yard carries but has scored more touchdowns than Jackson. And so I'm OK to consider evenly matched here, so the defense comes in to play, where Seattle takes over.

Defensive measures: 1.5 less yards per carry; 50 less yards per game; less touchdowns allowed; half the amount of 20-plus yard runs and no 40-yard plus runs all point towards the Seattle defense containing Jackson better than the Rams defense stopping Lynch.

3. And not only rush defense points towards the Seahawks, but pass defense also. I think the D of this game will be what wins it or loses it—points will not be in abundance here, so the defense of both sides matters a whole lot more. Again, Seattle is allowing 20 yards more than the Rams but in big picture, they're stepping up over St. Louis in this one.

Three more interceptions and three less touchdowns allowed. The big one for me is Seattle is allowing eight less 20-plus-yard throws, and as a result, the Rams will struggle to make big-time conversions, move the chain along and score enough points to hold out the Seahawks in this one.

I might be only one in the world to say this, but this could be a brilliant game. Having said that, I may be very, very wrong.

Seattle by 6