Browns vs. Raiders: 5 Halftime Adjustments Oakland Must Make

In Oakland today we are seeing a battle of two teams that are on the rise. The Raiders seem to be rising a bit faster, beating the New York Jets and coming close against the Buffalo Bills. But both teams have opportunistic QBs and punishing running games.

This could be an offensive back-and-forth all day. But so far, Oakland is in control on both sides. Still, there are a few things they can do to really put the hurt on the Browns.

Here are the five big adjustments the Raiders must make at halftime.

1. Run DMC

Darren McFadden should be getting the ball a lot today. He's that playmaking star the Raiders have been looking for since he was drafted. McFadden has the ability to turn an ordinary play into a big one every time he touches the ball.

That being said, he should be in the game plan at least a few times a drive. If Oakland runs some pitches or sweeps wide with McFadden and allows him to use that speed and elusiveness to that advantage, we could see him break off some huge runs.

2. Give Campbell Time

Jason Campbell has looked very strong at quarterback for the Raiders this year. He's having a mini-resurgence and showing what he's really capable of; however, he still has a tendency to make some mistakes in the pocket. He still makes some poor decisions that lead to turnovers.

If he's rushed in the pocket and has nowhere to scramble, he might get jittery and force a throw into coverage. After going up big on the electric kick return by Jacoby Ford, the last thing Oakland wants it to see the momentum swing right back to Cleveland with a big takeaway. The line needs to create a good pocket for Campbell and give him the time he needs to make a good throw.

3. Blitz Colt

On the flip side, Colt McCoy is a young quarterback who's having a solid season, but still doesn't completely grasp the small things that it takes to play the position. He's similar to Campbell, where he will get a little nervous in the pocket when he's rushed and might make a bad throw because of it.

The Raiders have the personnel to get at McCoy in the backfield, and the more they blitz him, the more likely he is to turn it over. If the Raiders get a big turnover in the second half and turn it into points, they will more than likely ride the momentum alone to a victory.

4. Keep the Momentum

Speaking of that momentum, the Raiders' dedicated fan base needs reason to stay loud and crazy. They are some of the most fierce fans in the entire league, and having them backing the team is huge. As long as they are drowning out the Browns' snap count, the Raiders have a big advantage.

So, making a bone head play or allowing the Browns to climb into the game and steal the momentum on the road would be a killer for Oakland. This is their house and they need to play well to defend that turf and keep the fans going nuts.

5. Use the Burners

Besides McFadden, the Raiders are loaded with some of the fastest players in the league. Ford, Darrius Heyward-Bey and others have the speed to burn the defenders and make plays on deep passes. That's another way Campbell and the Raiders can keep the momentum and rack up some points.

Pull a couple double moves, or use a play-action or pump-fake to give those receivers the split second they need to take off and separate from the coverage. Once that happens, Campbell can use his strong arm to go deep and hit those receivers for big gains that may put the game away.