What did New England Patriots fans - the few objective ones out there anyway - learn about their team from yesterday's win, a 24-20, fist-fight on the RCA Dome turf in Indianapolis?
At the very least, the Patriots can take pride in passing this midterm exam.
First, that dome provides the greatest home-field advantage in sports. Go there once, and you'll lay that golden fiddle at the Colts fans' feet. The atmosphere a year ago in the AFC title game was nothing like I've ever experienced in sports. Those folks were ravenous. It wasn't about having a good time but finally helping their team win the big one.
To rally from a 20-10 down in the fourth quarter and win showed a side to the Pats we haven't seen all year - their heart. They haven't needed it, though.
Yesterday, our resident bullies caught the opponent fighting back in their own schoolyard and still put them in their place. Take a bow, Patriots.
That said, at 9-0, the Pats had some of their weaknesses exposed nationally.
Remember, this was an Indy team without Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison and without starting left tackle Tony Ugoh among others. No excuses, though.
What about the Pats?
OK, one final time. The Pats management should truly be kicking itself for going to battle with Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney, et al., at receiver last year.
Remember all those folks who said the Pats don't need big-money superstars? They're the ones cheering loudest for Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte' Stallworth.
Even on a bad day, against a wildly underrated Colts defense, New England got it done, not by winning in the trenches, but with its skill players.
The offensive line had a tough day, with Pats runners held to 3.8 yards a carry and Tom Brady (sacked twice) under pressure much of the night.
Matt Light, with a little help at times from Benjamin Watson, did handle Dwight Freeney nicely, but the Colts stuffed the run too often when it mattered.
Upcoming games at Baltimore and at home against the Steelers are basically the only legitimate measuring sticks left for this bunch, which remains is on the precipice of "great," but because of days like yesterday remains "very good."
Defensively, speed - or the lack of it - was again a problem. Those of you who chose to ignore earlier tackling woes against Miami, Dallas and even Washington, watched Joseph Addai (112 rushing yards, 114 receiving yards) nearly single-handedly beat the Pats.
Addai outran Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi, Junior Seau and Rosevelt Colvin then simply shook off tackle attempts by James Sanders, Randall Gay, Ellis Hobbs and Asante Samuel far too often.
Rodney Harrison, who did yeoman work shadowing Dallas Clark, and Adalius Thomas, who for some reason wasn't involved much in the defensive game plan, draw free passes here.
Hobbs still can't cover, which is a scary fact that was somewhat masked by a brilliant Bill Belichick scheme that left safeties deep to take away the long ball.
Samuel is Samuel, a very good but not spectacular corner.
Sanders, Gay and injured Eugene Wilson are question marks every time they are involved in a play.
Up front, Indy's offense - either attacking the edge on the run or passing - basically eliminates one of New England's top assets, Vince Wilfork, from the mix.
The good news is that when Richard Seymour was in there yesterday. He was active, stout and disruptive.
Ty Warren was steady, although Addai found success running right at him and Vrabel.
Jarvis Green delivered the defensive gem of the game, stripping Manning in the fourth quarter to kill the Colts' hopes. He's still vulnerable to the run, though.
Was yesterday's test a good experience for New England?
No. It was a great one. Any win at Indy is.
But there is work to be done, improvements to be made.
Believe it or not, at 9-0, this team still can get better.
Hector Longo is an Eagle-Tribune sportswriter. E-mail him at hlongo@eagletribune.com.
