Patriots vs. Raiders: 5 Halftime Adjustments New England Must Make

The New England Patriots might be prime suspects for an upset today. Oakland is a tough place to play, and the Raiders are coming off a big win against the Jets. The Pats can't take it easy here with a 17-10 lead, and they need to really hit the throttle to ensure that victory.

Darren McFadden is someone the Patriots really need to continue keying on, because he has breakaway ability every time he touches the ball. This is not a place they want to fall behind, even with comeback-master Tom Brady at the helm.

Here are five big adjustments the Patriots need to make to ensure they stay ahead and win this game: 

 

1. Stick with the Speedsters

It's well known that Al Davis drafts for speed, and speed the Raiders have. Jacoby Ford and McFadden are some of the fastest players in the league. Oakland will take shots down the field, so the secondary really needs to stick tight to Ford and the other fast receivers and avoid getting burned by the big play.

Playing a man-to-man defense will help. The only thing closer to those receivers on obvious passing downs should be the players' pads. We all know what damage a big play can do for momentum, and the Patriots really don't want to lose momentum in this game. 

 

2. Keep Pounding the Ball

BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been tearing through the defense with no problem. We know the passing game is dangerous, but the running game is key right now. The reason for that is if Green-Ellis and Co. can keep finding space to run in, it will open up the pass game.

Open up the pass game with Brady and Wes Welker and the Pats might run away with this game early in the second half. Once the running game forces the Raiders to key on that, a simple play-action pass will be extremely effective in getting separation for the receivers and allowing Brady an easy bomb for a score.

 

3. Steal the Momentum and Keep it

The Raiders have long been the laughing stock of the NFL, but one thing never changed. The desire and intensity the fans brought to every game, win or lose. The Raider Nation is an underrated set of fans who definitely makes opponents' lives difficult.

Again, Oakland is not a place you want to fall behind, because the crowd will drown you. Brady is the most prolific quarterback in pressure situations, but a big enough gap and that ferocious fanbase will surprise you. After the devastating loss last week, the Patriots know better than anyone else how important it is to maintain the momentum.

 

4. Get Pressure on Campbell

Campbell has his moments, and he's looking good today, but he’s skittish in the pocket when pressured and will force throws as a result. An interception, besides the obvious turnover aspect, does a lot for the Patriots, as evidenced by the Patrick Chung pick to help the Patriots notch a field goal heading into halftime. If Campbell is hurried and throws another pick, it will definitely rattle his confidence.

If the Pats can get Campbell to stumble and have to re-gain his composure in a come-from-behind effort, they will be sitting pretty in the second half. Getting him outside the pocket and hurried is going to cause him to to make a mistake. And one thing he does far too much is throw the ball up for grabs. Sounds good if you're the New England secondary! 

 

5. Hit Wes

Welker is the go-to guy; there's no doubt about it. He’s fast, elusive and has good hands. Running some crossing routes or deep patterns with Welker is going to kill this Raider secondary, and we haven't seen nearly enough of him. 

Much like the Raiders have McFadden as an X-factor, the Patriots have Welker. He needs to be getting the ball at least once every drive, because he has a chance to make something big happen. I wouldn't even be sneaky about it; just throw the ball to him and let him run amok.