Patriots vs. Raiders: 5 Halftime Adjustments Oakland Must Make

The Raiders are coming off of a big win over the New York Jets and have looked surprisingly potent this season. If Oakland wins this game, there could be riots in the Bay Area.

A close game in the first half is solid; if not for a couple mistakes and a little more execution on their second drive, the Raiders might have the edge. Darren McFadden is making it look easy and Jason Campbell looks like an old pro.

The main concern is containing the prolific Patriots offense. Here are five big adjustments the Raiders must make at halftime:

1. Blitz Brady

The Golden Boy threw four interceptions last week, and though that's a rarity for him, it shows he's human. Putting pressure on him might at least get him thinking and get those feet moving. Moving him around in the pocket is big for the Raiders, because he's got great pocket presence in there and you want him to be as uncomfortable as possible.

Who knows? Maybe rattling Brady with a big hit or a couple sacks might force him to make a bad throw. And an interception would be huge in this game. Getting to the quarterback is going to be key for the upset bid.

2. Keep the Crowd in the Game

Raider Nation can be downright nasty when they are pumped up. Even when they are losing, the fans are pretty fierce. This makes Oakland a tough place to play. The Raiders need to use that to their advantage. 

Staying ahead, or at least close is going to make the atmosphere very loud and tough for the Patriots. Momentum is going to be a big factor in a close game like this. And the last team you want gaining momentum and deflating the crowd is New England.

3. Limit Big Mistakes

On the Pats' first scoring drive, two big penalties helped move them down the field. Avoid things like unnecessary roughness and face masks. It's going to be tough enough to stop that offensive attack. They don't need any help moving the ball.

Any team in the NFL has to play a mistake-free game against the Patriots to get a win. That is why New England has been the class of the league for so long. Brady and that offense limit their mistakes and don't hurt themselves. The Raiders must do the same.

4. Don't Get Sucked in by the Running Game

BenJarvus Green-Ellis and the rushing attack have made some big plays so far. That opens up the passing game for Brady. And that can't happen. Brady to Wes Welker is way too dangerous of a connection, so that needs to be kept in mind. 

The Raiders need to be patient and simply contain the running game, but not sacrifice letting the receivers run free at that price. Because if the defense is kept off-balance by the run game, all it's going to take is a play-action pass from Brady and the Patriots will have seven more points.

5. Run DMC

Darren McFadden is quickly becoming the most electric player in the NFL, and for good reason. He needs to get the ball at least a couple times per drive. Every time he touches the ball, he has a chance to get a big chunk of yardage.

Enough hand-offs to McFadden is going to result in a big play sooner or later. Then, once the Patriots start being forced to key on him, they will have to loosen up on the pass coverage. Their secondary is below average to begin with, so that would open up a whole new avenue for the passing game.