Rank the remaining games in terms of level of difficulty. Here’s mine: 1. @GB; 2 @Colts; 3 Dolphins; 4 @San Diego; 5 Lions; 6. Bills 7. @NYJ. Not as bad as first thought. SD has come down to Earth, the Jets should be packing it in by week 16, the Colts have no defense. Green Bay will be tough (on the road against an unfamiliar opponent). Dolphins and Bills (maybe) should be playing for something.

Here’s mine, basically the same except at the top.

7. @ Jets – just a chance to rub some salt in the wound that it is the 2014 season for them.

6. Bills – Garoppolo time!

5. Lions – good test, but I think the Pats will be ready for them after the beatings they gave us in recent preseasons. Hope Megatron plays to see him vs. Revis.

4. @ San Diego – they’ll present some challenges, especially on the road. Depends on which Chargers team shows up – last weekend’s one that got blown out by the Dolphins or the one that got off to a hot start. Probably one that comes down to the end.

3. Dolphins – I kind of think they’re overrated right now and I have my doubts they can put up much fight in mid-December weather in Foxboro. But if there’s a playoff spot on the line it could be a good one.

2. @ Green Bay – Fun matchup but not a critical game for either team. Good road test for the Pats at a time when they should be rounding into the best football.

1. @ Indy – The LOS has been a house of horrors for the Pats (4th and 2, SB46) and the Colts would love nothing more than to finally get a win vs. the Pats after getting dominated the last two times in Foxboro. This feels like a proving game and one that will impact the playoff seedings. Big, big tilt on national TV. Can Andrew Luck play a perfect game? That’s what it will take.