Saints vs. Panthers: 5 Halftime Adjustments New Orleans Must Make

What an intense game so far as the Carolina Panthers take on the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. The 3-1 Saints are looking to stop Cam Newton and the high-octane Panthers offense.

We should be in for a shootout in the second half, and if the Saints want to take down the Panthers, they must step up for the remainder of the game.

Here are five halftime adjustments the Saints need to make in order to get this big road victory. 

1. Protection

The most important offensive priority for both teams is protection. The Saints need to continue to give Brees time in the pocket so he can get New Orleans into a rhythm. The Saints offense relies heavily on trust and timing, which all rest on O-Line protection. 

2. Don't Be Stupid 

There's no doubt that these two teams don't like each other. In the second half, the Saints need to make sure they don't let emotion get the best of them. We've already seen some tension with Harper's late hit, and this game will for sure get more heated as time winds down. The Saints must limit their stupid mistakes in the second half if they want the win. 

3. Pressure on 3rd Down 

On the Panthers' first scoring drive, Newton was able to convert on two big third down situations. In the second half, the Saints need to keep switching up their pressure packages to give Newton different looks. Carolina's rookie QB has not performed well under pressure throughout the season, and his inexperience makes him liable for a mistake at any moment. 

4. Red Zone Offense

The Saints offense performed poorly in the red zone last week against the Jags. Although they have been able to put some points on the board in the red zone today, they need to continue to execute in the second half. Despite being the No. 2-ranked offense in the NFL, the Saints are a meager 20th in the red zone. This must change today if they want to win. 

5. Take Shots 

N.O. needs to roll the dice and take shots deep in the second half. The Panthers have some inexperience in the secondary, and with time, Brees should be able to pick apart the D and find the open receiver for the big hit.