AP photo Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gets ready to unload a pass duirng Thursday night's game vs. the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium.

New England Patriots fans are wondering if medium things will turn into big things.

They’re overlooking the biggest thing.

They ought to instead look at the rest of the AFC, which is bcoming less and less threatening with each passing week.

While the Patriots try to solve the problems of things like a makeshift offensive line,no tight end or fullback, very few receivers,and what to do with a seldom used, unhappy pass rushing specialist, the rest of the AFC is crumbling around them.

The Kansas City Chiefs can’t stop the opposition from moving the ball, have Andy Reid making more dumb sidedline decisins, and have lost two straight at home. The Houston Texans have Deshaun Watson putting up great numbers but no offensive line and Bill O’Brien’s mind turns to mush when the Patriots are across the field.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have already had their shot and are now 2-4, trying to be on the road to recovery. The Indianapolis Colts, well, they have owner Jim Irsay for Patriot fans to mock and aren’t quite ready for prime time. Baltimore? Patriot fans cringe at the thought of the Ravens being anywhere in their vicinity, Lamar Jackson continues to be a dynamic QB, but they still seem stuck in 10-6 mode.

Who else is there?

Really, if there is any year for the Patriots to have the angst that of their fans are experiencing, especially every time quarterback Tom Brady gives one of his patented “I just work here” answers, this is the one.

There are no real threats. The only team that can beat the New England Patriots is, well, New England.

Why? Because the Patriots defense appears to, in the words of Brady, finally have the answers to the test. They haven’t faced any real top flight quarterbacks yet, so perhaps we don’t have a true read. The menu gets a bit better in the coming weeks as next Monday night starts a seven-game stretch against QBs who are an upgrade over the first six games.

They’ll see the Jets’ Sam Darnold next Monday night, and he is capable of having a dynamic game but also throwing you the ball and handing your defense a win. He’s lucky that didn’t happen Sunday in the stunner against the Cowboys.

“Darnold clearly made a lot of good throws,” Patriot coach Bill Belichick said in his media conference call Monday. “They have a lot of confidence in him as they should. It was a solid effort all the way around. … It certainly makes a big difference having him on the field for them, there’s no question about that.”

Next up after that will be Cleveland in Foxborough on Oct.27, and Baker Mayfield. Mayfield has the same issue Darnold has – no good offensive line to proetect him. Jackson comes on the schedule with the Ravens soon after.

Ah, offensive line. That seems to be a problem Brady has had to deal with this season. The loss of David Andrews at center has been huge. And if we were to have told you before the season started that his left tackle and protector would be a guy named Marshall Newhouse, besides “Who?” the other word you would have uttered wouldn’t have been suitable for print. And still isn’t. But reinforcements for the receiving corps may be on the way as rookie receiver N’Keal Harry, currently on IR, is expected to begin practicing this week and the word is the Patriots are re-signing tight end Ben Watson.

No, the Patriots defense has feasted against inferior opposition and there’s plenty more to come. When it’s time for the playoffs, Belichick and Brady will issue the standard line that whoever they face will be a good team otherwise they wouldn’t have made it.

Don’t believe them. There are no teams in the AFC righ tnow that are on par with the Patriots. Their defense is so good they don’t miss the pass rusher who left via free agency, Trey Flowers, nor the one they seem to have no use for, Michael Bennett.

The carryover from a year ago, plus the addition of Jamie Collins who had played here previously, has helped.

“When you look at our defensive roster,” Belichick said, “there’s a lof of guys that’ve played a lot of football here.”

It’s a strange year in the NFL, especially the AFC. Strange indeed, except for one constant – your New England Patriots.

Pick them apart, disect and bisect them, but when the middle of January comes, you can be sure of a couple of things: First, any challenger will have to come to Gillette; and second, there won’t be a team that can come to Gillette with any hopes of winning.

That’s the biggest thing.

RANKINGS AFTER WEEK SIX

AFC

1.New England (6-0). 2. Houston (4-2). 3. Kansas City (4-2). 4. Baltimore (4-2). 5. Buffalo (4-1).

NFC

1.Green Bay (4-1)* 2. San Francisco (5-0). 3. New Orleans (5-1). 4. Seattle (5-1). 5. Minnesota (4-2).

*Not including Monday Night

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