It’s a measure of the New England Patriots’ decline that the Indianapolis Colts are three-point favorites Monday night in Foxborough, Mass., which has been a house of horrors for them recently.

Yes, the Colts are the NFL’s only unbeaten team, and the Patriots have lost three times.

But Indy has been eliminated by the Patriots in the playoffs the last two years, hasn’t won in Foxborough since 1995 and has lost six straight games to the Patriots.

Peyton Manning? He’s 0-7 in New England.

Tony Dungy has things in perspective.

“It’s a big game in that it’s Monday night, and it’s against the Super Bowl champs,” the Colts’ coach says. “But it’s still Week 8, and it’s still one game. So if we beat them, we don’t want to think we’ve arrived or that our season is over. It’s still only one game in the middle of the season.”

The game really is more important to the Patriots, bearing less resemblance to a three-time Super Bowl champion than a team struggling to win the AFC East and make the playoffs. They really had no business beating the Bills last week in the Tedy Bruschi return game, but pulled it out by forcing a turnover. It was a typical New England victory.

New England’s problems aren’t only physical. The Pats are making mental errors uncharacteristic of Bill Belichick’s teams. They were called for delay of game at the end of the first half, then watched Adam Vinatieri miss a field-goal attempt (it happens a couple of times a season, but never in crunch time).

The Colts’ unbeaten run could work against them – they have to lose at some point, just as Houston had to win eventually.

But the Colts won’t stumble here. Not with Dwight Freeney against rookie left tackle Nick Kaczur, subbing for Matt Light, one of many injured Patriots. Not with a patched-up secondary trying to cover the Colts’ receivers.

COLTS, 24-13

Oakland (plus 41â2) at Kansas City

The scoreboard could resemble a pinball machine.

CHIEFS, 38-33

Cincinnati (minus 3) at Baltimore

And more.

BENGALS, 21-16

Philadelphia (plus 3) at Washington)

Two teams that lost last week by a combined 64 points.

The Eagles are a mystery. The Redskins are overrated.

EAGLES, 24-16

Atlanta (minus 21â2) at Miami

More than half the road teams are favored this week.

The Falcons are probably one that shouldn’t be.

DOLPHINS, 21-20

Carolina (minus 11â2) at Tampa Bay

The home guys opened as favorites. Then the road money came in.

PANTHERS, 16-11

Tennessee (plus 3) at Cleveland

Browns bounceback?

BROWNS, 17-16

San Diego (minus 61â2) at New York Jets

Logical road favorite against a team with no real QB.

CHARGERS, 34-13

Pittsburgh (Off) at Green Bay

The Steelers were favored by six. Went off for Ben Roethlisberger’s knee questions, and now he’s out. But Steelers will run.

STEELERS, 16-13

New York Giants (minus 10) at San Francisco

And again, even if the Giants have an inevitable letdown after two emotional wins.

GIANTS, 29-16

Houston (plus 131â2) at Jacksonville

No road favorite here.

JAGUARS, 20-10

Seattle (minus 41â2) at Arizona

And yet again, although Seattle rarely is at its best away from home.

SEAHAWKS, 27-23

Detroit (minus 11â2) at Minnesota

One road favorite that probably shouldn’t be, even with Brad Johnson for Daunte Culpepper.

VIKINGS, 20-16

Chicago (minus 3) at New Orleans (Baton Rouge)

The Bears are doing what they have to do – playing defense and running.

BEARS, 17-13

LAST WEEK: 4-10 (spread) 9-5 (straight up)

SEASON: 47-67-2 (spread) 72-44 (straight up)