NFL Picks Week 7: Which Games Should Be Over Before the Whistle Even Blows?

While there is never a guaranteed thing in the NFL these days, the following five games should be solid bets for one of the teams involved:

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) at Arizona Cardinals (1-4)

The Cardinals don't appear to have much of a chance in this rematch of Super Bowl XLIII. The Steelers have won four of their last five games and feature the NFL's No. 1 passing defense.

Kevin Kolb, the Cardinals' new starting quarterback this season, has thrown six interceptions and been sacked 16 times. Arizona has lost four straight games and got walloped by the Vikings before their bye. While that week off could help the Cardinals early on, I expect the Steelers to run away with this game in the second half. 

Green Bay Packers (6-0) at Minnesota Vikings (1-5)

It's tough to say a rivalry like this is a solid bet, but there's no other way to look at it when the Packers visit Minnesota Sunday. Aaron Rodgers is almost untouchable playing indoors, and the Vikings are fresh off getting beat by 29 points. Green Bay just looks like they are on a different level right now then everyone else. It'd be a huge upset if the Packers, who are favored by more than a touchdown on the road, lose to the 1-5 Vikings this Sunday.

St. Louis Rams (0-5) at Dallas Cowboys (2-3)

Not often do you see 2-3 teams that are such overwhelming favorites, but the Cowboys are better than their record indicates. They've had some tough breaks in the final minutes of games this season that has cost them. Those fears shouldn't be a problem against the Rams, who might be without quarterback Sam Bradford after he badly sprained his ankle against Green Bay. And overall, there's a reason the Rams haven't won a game this season. Expecting them to go to Dallas and beat the Cowboys would certainly be a stretch.

Indianapolis Colts (0-6) at New Orleans Saints (4-2)

Saints vs. Colts features another Super Bowl rematch that doesn't look very good on paper for the losing team. The Colts, who lost to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV, are big underdogs. And while the Saints hit a bump in the road against Tampa Bay and falling to 4-2, the Colts haven't found the winning side of the W-L column yet this season. If the Saints jump out to an early lead, this game could get out of hand. 

Baltimore Ravens (4-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)

ESPN features another poor Monday night game, as the Ravens travel to Jacksonville to take on the 1-5 Jaguars. While the Jags hung around against the Steelers last week, the Ravens are a much different story in 2011. Poor Blaine Gabbert, who has had to face two of the tougher NFL defenses in back-to-back weeks after taking over the starting job. He'll likely struggle again in front of a national audience on Monday night.