NFL Picks Week 9: Contenders That Will Benefit from Home Cooking

Several NFL teams head home in Week 9 desperately needing something positive to hang their hats on.

Some so-called contenders like the Dallas Cowboys will host lesser opposition in their building with a chance to right their many wrongs of 2011.

Good NFL teams usually protect home field, but contenders almost always win at home, and that's why these three teams will do just that in Week 9:

New Orleans Saints Over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In a bitter NFC South division rivalry, the reeling Saints will host the Bucs who are coming off a bye week after a trip to London.

Drew Brees and the Saints fell last week to the winless Rams, who aren't so winless anymore, and now find themselves in a dogfight with the Bucs and the Falcons for the division lead.

New Orleans is a perfect 3-0 at home in 2011, and the Bucs have yet to pass a solid road test this season. Saints win easy in the Superdome.

Dallas Cowboys Over Seattle Seahawks

Although whether the Cowboys are contenders is debatable, their upcoming schedule suggests that they will turn things around very shortly.

The Seahawks are surprisingly second in the NFC West at 2-5, and have been taking punches to the face all season long, not surprisingly.

After a brutal, embarrassing loss on the road last week against rival Philadelphia, Dallas will benefit from the home crowd and a weak opponent to get back on track in Week 9.

Oakland Raiders Over Denver Broncos

The Oakland Raiders, like the Dallas Cowboys, will benefit from hosting a lowly opponent on Sunday.

Although playing at home should make things much easier for the Silver and Black, the 2-6 Broncos pose little threat to them in this matchup.

Tim Tebow has struggled to find his receivers, and the Denver D stopped absolutely nothing last week against the Detroit Lions.

Carson Palmer has had time to learn the playbook, and Oakland should be a lock to move to 5-3 on the year and into a tie atop the AFC West.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter @_Pat_Clarke