Giants vs. 49ers: 5 Halftime Adjustments New York Must Make

We should be in for a crazy finish as the 6-2 New York Giants take on the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. 

The Giants are coming off an impressive win against the Patriots where they cemented themselves as a true contender for the division title. 

Can New York step up in the second half and put a halt to the Niners' dream season? 

Here are five halftime adjustments the Giants need to consider if they want to come away with the win. 

1. Finish Drives

New York needs to finish in the red zone if they want to win this game. The Niners' D rarely lets down and the Giants must turn their long drives into touchdowns. 

Expect this game to come down to the wire and be determined by each team's ability to score touchdowns in the red zone. 

2. Follow the Lead Block

The Giants need to continue to pull their guards and follow the lead blocks in the second half. SF has the top run defense in the NFL, but the Giants have had the most success when their offensive linemen were able to get to the second level and lay blocks on the Niners LBs. 

3. Get After Alex

The Giants need to bring heavy pressure and rush QB Alex Smith in the second half. The Niners QB has been able to pick apart New York's secondary and the Giants D-Line must win the battle in the trenches if they want to stop SF's efficiency through the air. 

4. Third Down Stops

The Niners have not been good on third down throughout much of the 2011 season.

In the second half, the Giants need to start forcing the 49ers into longer third down situations, while keeping heavy pressure on the edges. The Niners have been decent on third down today, but look for this trend to fade when they are put in longer yardage situations. 

5. Keep Protecting Eli

Manning has been able to carve up the Niners D in the first half. Much of his success can be attributed to solid O-line protection. If Manning is kept clean in the second half, look for him to have his way against the Niners struggling secondary.