Patriots vs. Steelers: 5 Halftime Adjustments Pittsburgh Must Make

The Steelers come into the game looking to pick up their sixth win against the always-tough Patriots. The Steelers defense will need to find a way to stop the quick-strike New England offense. The Steelers offense should be able to score at will against the inexperienced Patriots defense.

The Steelers had an excellent half against the strong Patriots. The game is not out of reach and it will be interesting to see if Tom Brady can lead a comeback.

Here are five things Pittsburgh must do in the second half against New England:

1) Keep Exposing Patriots Secondary

Ben Roethlisberger needs to continue to find his receivers against the shaky Patriots secondary. The passing offense has started out hot and will need to continue be successful against the weak point of the Patriots' defense.

Mike Wallace will need to continue to stretch the field so the intermediate routes open up. The Steelers will need to put up points through the air to be able to come out of the game with a win.

2) Attack the Patriots Linebackers

The Patriots LBs have looked bad so far in coverage. The Steelers need to attack the flats and the middle of the field to expose the weakness.

The Steelers have done a good job finding TEs and WRs, but will need to continue to focus on attacking the LBs often.

3) Get the Running Game Going

The Steelers have been doing a great job attacking the Patriots through the air, but will need to find a way to be effective on the ground. Mendenhall has been struggling and will need to be successful in the second half.

A strong run game will open up the passing game even more. Good balance will guarantee the Patriots defense will struggle in the second half.

4) Sustain Long Drives to Keep the Ball Out of Tom Brady's Hands

The Steelers need to continue to control the ball on offense to keep it out of Tom Brady's hands. Keeping the ball will limit the chances Tom Brady has to score on the tough Steelers defense.

Time of possession could be a key stat that can determine who will pick up a win today.

5) Limit Penalties

The Steelers played a good first half in most aspects, but can improve on the amount of penalties they pick up. The second half will be tough and limiting mistakes is crucial to pull out a win.