New York vs. Green Bay: 4 Halftime Adjustments the Packers Must Make

Forget 15-1. In the playoffs, every team is undefeated until they lose -- and then their season is over.

The Packers were the best team all year long, but today they're facing an inspired Giants team who believe they can win and seem to have some luck on their side as well after completing a Hail Mary to end the half..

The Packers down 20-10 Here are 4 adjustments Mike McCarthy and co. need to make to win this game and punch the 49ers' tickets to chilly Green Bay for the NFC Championship game.

1. Slow down Cruz and Nicks

When the Giants are moving the ball effectively, they're doing it through the air to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. But if Green Bay can do a better job limiting those two, New York has very few reliable weapons to throw the ball to. Mario Manningham? Jack Ballard? The Pack will have to take their chances with those two.

Green Bay's CBs need to do a better job jamming Cruz and Nicks at the line to disrupt their timing with Manning. Dom Capers should also mix up his schemes to disguise which of Manning's receivers are double-covered. 

Obviously the hail mary at the end of the half is yet another example. How can Nicks not have (even more of) a crowd around him there?

2. Change up the third down plan

Eli Manning completed three long third down passes in the first quarter alone. Whatever Dom Capers is doing on third-and-long, it isn't working.

He's had too much time to work, and has done a good job of slipping out of the pocket at times.

Moving forward, Capers should try dialing up the pressure on 3rd down, and if he can get in Manning's head with the rush, he can switch it up to some zone blitzes -- dropping linemen back in coverage to confuse Eli and trying to force turnovers.

The Pack already have one interception, more could be coming if they can continue to get in Manning's face.

3. Ball security

Here's an easy one. Twice the Packers have almost fumbled. Once the man was down, the other time, the Packers caught a break on a bad call. 

Then John Kuhn put the ball on the ground late in the second quarter, giving the Giants the ball in a dangerous position.

Green Bay has also had several crucial drops, leading directly to their first punt of the day. 

In the second half, the Packers need to focus on ball security. Don't leave this game in the hands of the replay officials or their suspect defense.

4. Keep Rodgers' feet under him

Rodgers has not been been hit as much as we thought he might be in this game, but he has had to scramble quite often, and it's led to some uncharacteristically erratic passes. There are a few ways the Pack can help Rodgers out. 

The obvious first answer is to run the ball more. If James Starks and Ryan Grant can get going, New York's line will have to respect the run, keeping them from pinning their ears back and rushing the passer.

The Pack can also run more screens to take advantage of the Giant's upfield pursuit, and they can use more two tight end sets so there are more bodies on the line to double some of the Giants' defensive threats.