NFL Picks Week 9: Home Teams That Will Fail to Protect Their House

Home-field advantage is supposed to play into a team's favor because they are in familiar surroundings, but sometimes, teams fail to use this advantage and fall in front of hometown fans.

Here are the three most likely teams that will fail to protect their home and let their opponents ransack them in Week 9.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals will continue their season of doom with a home loss to the visiting St. Louis Rams.

With the Cardinals most likely without quarterback Kevin Kolb, expect Arizona to struggle more than usual whether or not Rams quarterback Sam Bradford starts.

Rams running back Steven Jackson had a great Week 8 and that will carry over into this week. He will lead his team to victory in the battle of the 1-6 teams.

Prediction: St. Louis Rams 20, Arizona Cardinals 13

Oakland Raiders

With star running back Darren McFadden on the mend and newly acquired quarterback Carson Palmer making his first start, expect the Oakland Raiders to lose at home for the second straight week to the AFC West rival Denver Broncos.

Expect heavily-criticized Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow to have a better game than usual against the Raiders and their 25th-ranked pass defense.

With McFadden out, the Raiders' offense will struggle with Palmer finding his way into the system, providing the Broncos with a perfect spot for an upset.

Prediction: Denver Broncos 24, Oakland Raiders 16

San Diego Chargers

After a three-game road stretch in which they went 1-2, the San Diego Chargers won't find much comfort at home this week against the red-hot Green Bay Packers.

Expect Aaron Rogers and the Packers to take it to the normally stout Chargers' pass defense, and put San Diego down early.

The Packers' third-best passing defense will keep Phillip Rivers and the Chargers' passing game at bay, putting all the offensive pressure on running back Mike Tolbert—with normal starter Ryan Mathews most likely out with a groin injury—who will fold under the pressure.

In the end, the Packers will prove too much for the Chargers, and will hand them their first home loss of the year.

Prediction: Green Bay Packers 35, San Diego Chargers 20