Colts are a stern test for Pats, but not the best measuring stick

Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

The Patriots face a stern test on Sunday when they travel to Indianapolis to face potential MVP candidate Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, but is it a good measuring stick for where the Patriots are as a team? Partially, but where the Pats are as a team will be determined by more than this game. The Patriots began a stretch of games last week where they face a string of tough teams, and they got off to a great start by beating the Denver Broncos 43-21. Now they move on to another team that could well be in the hunt for the AFC crown come season's end in Indianapolis before coming home to the Detroit Lions (7-2, 1st in the NFC North), then going to Green Bay (6-3, 2nd in the NFC North) and San Diego (5-4, 3rd in AFC West). This 5-game stretch (including Denver in week 9) will serve as the Patriots best measuring stick.

Not to discount the significance of the game on Sunday, though. Indy is a very tough team and will provide a tough test on the road for the Pats, and they're led by the quarterback of the future in Andrew Luck. He's thrown 26 touchdowns so far to 9 interceptions and 3,085 yards so far this year and could well be in the race for the MVP come season's end. Defensively, the Patriots will face a stern test against the #1 passing offense (337 YPG) in the league, so in that respect it could be a good measuring stick for the Patriots.

Like I said, though, the ultimate measuring stick doesn't start or end with Indianapolis - it started with Denver last week and, at least in my mind, runs through the San Diego game on December 7th. They play 4 teams that made the playoffs last year, and the only team that didn't (Detroit), looks poised to make a run this year with a strong defense and one of the most deadly QB-WR combos in the league in Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. It's hard to single out one game in this stretch as a "measuring stick" game for the Patriots because they're going to face (or have faced) 5 good teams in this stretch. The Pats then close out the year with 3 games against the other AFC East teams, which are always tough, but the Pats destiny will be ultimately be determined by how they perform in these next 4 games.

Thoughts? Let me know on Twitter (@C_Frederick1016) or leave a comment.