NFL Predictions Week 7: Saints and Ravens Will Shine on Prime Time Stage

You can never exactly predict what's going to happen in a football season. So, when the schedules are made in the spring, the networks cross their fingers that the prime time games that they schedule end up being good ones.

This week, it would appear as though those wishes did not come true.

The Sunday night game matches up the Colts and the Saints. It's hard to believe that these two teams met in the Super Bowl less than two years ago. Of course, the biggest difference is that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is out of action.

Remember that the Saints beat the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, a game that featured Manning and was not in New Orleans.

The Saints are largely the same team that won the Super Bowl, at least offensively. Yes, they have lost a few players, but they are still one of the best offenses in the game.

The game is also in New Orleans, where the Saints are very hard to beat. I'll be the first to admit that I tend to overrate the Saints a little bit. Still, I can't imagine a single scenario where Indianapolis will win this one.

The Colts may well score some points, but it will not be nearly enough.

The Monday Night Football game is similar, but also different. Unlike the Colts-Saints game, I am not anticipating a lot of points. Anything beyond about 30 combined points seems to be pretty ambitious.

But the Ravens are also a good team. At 4-1, they are one of the best in the league and not far from being a Super Bowl candidate.

The Jaguars are just not a good team. Blaine Gabbert has shown promise as a rookie, but he's going to have a hard time against the Ravens defense.

With the exception of Maurice Jones-Drew, there is very little talent around Gabbert.

Again, I don't see many points from this one, but I can't imagine a scenario where Jacksonville wins this one.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind seeing some good prime time games that at least give us the chance of an upset. Still, the best wishes of those of us hoping for good football won't make much of a difference.

The Saints will win easily on Sunday night, and the Ravens will follow suit the following day.