Saints vs. 49ers: 4 Halftime Adjustments for New Orleans

The 49ers defense ambushed the Saints early in the game, but Drew Brees and the offense has settled down and brought New Orleans back into contention. Here are four things the Saints are going to need to do to complete the comeback and advance to the NFC Championship:

Hold on to the Ball:

Obvious enough, right? The Saints have already coughed it up four times. If they turn the ball over again the second half, we can all start talking about next year.

Cause Some Havoc on Defense:

Every football fan knows Gregg Williams is going to keep bringing the pressure in the second half. Now it is up to the secondary to take advantage of some hurried throws. If the Saints are going to win this game, they are going to have to close the turnover margin.

Drew Brees Needs to be More Conservative:

Yes, Brees had one of the best years in the history of the NFL, but that is no reason to get cocky against the 49ers’ stout defense. This slugfest will likely be lost by mistakes rather than won by heroic offensive plays. Brees has the confidence to take risks in the passing game, but this is not the time or the place.

Use the Sidelines: 

The Saints' biggest plays have been on deep balls down the sidelines. If the Saints are going to take risks against this defense they need to do so along the sidelines so they can limit the possibility of interceptions.