NFL Predictions Week 7: Picks for Every Afternoon Game

Sunday’s afternoon games seem to have some serious mismatches, but out in Oakland, there is considerable interest in seeing whether or not Carson Palmer will take the field with the Raiders after being traded from the Bengals on Tuesday.

Even without Palmer, the Chiefs-Raiders game looks to be the best afternoon matchup with one-win or zero-win teams playing in each of the other four games.

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

Meeting for the first time in the regular season since Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers have won two in a row, but haven't won on the road (0-2) yet this year.

That shouldn't be too much of a problem, though, since the Cardinals have lost their last four.

Still, the Steelers have to shut down wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who blossomed against them on the Super Bowl stage. To do that, they’re going to have to hurry quarterback Kevin Kolb.

For the Cardinals, if they don't bring a lot of pressure from the defensive line and the linebacker corps on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, this could be a long afternoon.

But face it—this will be a long afternoon for Arizona.

Pick: Steelers 27, Cardinals 13

Chiefs (2-3) at Raiders (4-2)

The Raiders have refused to say if the midweek addition of Carson Palmer means that Kyle Boller is out of a starting job he scarcely had; Boller had been the backup before Jason Campbell's injury forced a change two weeks ago.

K.C. catches a break in that Raiders placekicker Sebastian Janikowski (left hamstring) is injured and can't hurt them—he has hit on five field goals of 50-plus yards already.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley’s job seems to be on the line just about every week, but that has to be balanced with the Raiders still wearing the emotions of the loss of longtime club owner Al Davis just more than a week ago.

It's tough to see the Raiders losing this one.

Pick: Raiders 23, Chiefs 14

Rams (0-5) at Dallas (3-3)

Well, this is only the second game in town for once, with the Texas Rangers hosting the other St. Louis (the Cardinals) in Game 4 of the World Series down the street in Arlington.

The Rams aren't at all sure that they're going to have quarterback Sam Bradford available since he has a high ankle sprain that is slowing him down. Bradford was able to put the Rams on his back as a rookie last year, but things haven't gone as smoothly this time around.

It's probable that A.J. Feeley will start for St. Louis, and if so, look for running back Steven Jackson to get the call early and often.

This one looks to be an opportunity for Dallas quarterback Tony Romo to put up some big numbers with the Rams' defensive backfield in serious disarray. Romo has been up and down most of the season, but he and his receivers match up well against St. Louis.

It should be an easy win for the Cowboys.

Pick: Cowboys 24, Rams 10

Packers (6-0) at Vikings (1-5)

It's been a tough go for the Vikings this year, and this game isn't going to do anything to cure the Minnesota ills.

Generally this is an emotional matchup of these two longtime rivals, but usually the matchup isn't this lopsided.

The Vikings are starting a rookie quarterback, Christian Ponder, and while the Packers haven't seen him before, Ponder doesn't seem to be a guy who could put much of a hurt on them.

Green Back quarterback Aaron Rodgers is tough to bet against when playing in a dome. In his 14 career indoor starts, he has nine 300-yard games and 11 QB ratings of 110 or better.

The Packers have won a dozen straight games, which is tied for the longest winning streak in Green Bay history, dating back to the 1961-1962 seasons.

Look for a new record to get set today.

Pick: Packers 31, Vikings 13

Colts (0-6) at Saints (4-2)

In happier days for Indianapolis, this game would have drawn some serious national interest as a matchup between two of the league's premier quarterbacks.

The Saints' Drew Brees will be able to hold up his part, but the Colts’ Peyton Manning is out, and Indianapolis isn’t much without him.

They might not have been much with him in this game though, given that the Colts have the 27th-ranked defense that seems to get shakier all the time.

This is a good week for Brees to look for help from running backs Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram both on the ground and as receivers.

The most the Colts can hope for is to see defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis storm the trenches and chase Brees out of the backfield.

Picks: Saints 30, Colts 17