Browns vs. Raiders: 5 Halftime Adjustments Cleveland Must Make

In Oakland, today, we are seeing a battle of two teams that are on the rise. The Browns used to be the laughing stock of the NFL, but now are improving rapidly with Colt McCoy at the helm. 

This could be an offensive back-and-forth all day. But so far, Oakland is in control on both sides. There are a few things Cleveland must do to pull off the victory on the road.

Here are the five big adjustments the Browns must make at halftime:

1. Pressure Campbell

Jason Campbell has had a resurgence of sorts this season at QB. He's still not an elite quarterback by any means, but he looks much better than in previous years. Campbell knows he has the weapons to move the ball down field. But, he's still prone to mistakes.

He still makes dangerous throws and isn't great at holding on to the ball when he scrambles. That was never more evident than on the fumble at the end of the first quarter. The Browns need to get at him with blitzes and see if they can force more turnovers.

2. Contain Run DMC

This may be the most difficult task to complete. Darren McFadden is fast becoming the most dynamic back in the NFL, and he's the guy that's going to burn the defense if anyone does. The Browns should have a spy on him at all times.

If Cleveland can take away that aspect of the Raiders offense, they will be in good position to outscore Oakland. McFadden is going to get the ball pretty much every obvious running down, so the defense needs to recognize this and line up to stop him before the snap.

3. Protect Colt

Colt McCoy has looked great this season. He still struggles a little bit on the deep balls, but his game is pretty polished for such a young QB. That being said, like any young quarterback, McCoy gets very skittish in the pocket when he's pressured by the blitz.

To get full production out of their signal-caller, the Browns offensive line needs to be even more aware than usual. If they can create a comfortable pocket for McCoy and give him plenty of time, they are going to get more drives like the scoring drive at the beginning of the second quarter.

4. Take the Momentum

This is huge in any game, but especially in a road game. The Raiders have a ferocious fan base who will be rabid all game as long as the Raiders are in it. So a huge factor in this contest will be taking the crowd out of it. 

Once the Browns have momentum on their side, it could deflate the crowd, which could deflate the Raiders, and so on. Cleveland, at 2-2, are very much in the early hunt for a playoff spot. How realistic that is remains to be seen, but a road win would be huge in achieving that goal.

5. Stick Tight with the Burners

The Raiders have the aforementioned weapon of McFadden in the backfield. But they also have speedsters like Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford flanked wide. These are guys that will wreak havoc if left loose. They aren't the most talented players, but their speed brings a whole new element to the game.

The Browns need to stick tight to these guys on defense and special teams, as Ford returns kicks. Allowing a return like the one we saw after the Browns first score, completely deflates momentum and can turn the tide for the worse for Cleveland. Sticking on their hips is going to go a long way to controlling the tempo of this game and avoid getting beat by the big play.