In the NFL, the stretch between mid-October and Thanksgiving is a weeding out process that separates the contenders from the pretenders. Those teams that got off to a hot start over the first month or so will now find themselves tested when it comes to the long haul, while the rest of the field jockeys for position in hopes of setting themselves up nicely for the traditional post-Thanksgiving push for the playoffs.

Coming out of the bye with a rested team, an improved defense and an offense with few peers, the Patriots appear well positioned to start that stretch on a positive note Sunday against the Steelers. But don’t tell that to New England coach Bill Belichick.

“They look good, as usual -- the AFC champion last year -- a lot of the same players, same schemes,” Belichick said of 5-2 Pittsburgh. “[It’s a] big challenge, a lot to get ready for. They do a lot of things to make it tough on you. They’re well coached, [and they have] a lot of talent in all three phases of the game.

“Both teams know each other well, so I don’t think there will be a ton of surprises here. It will come down to preparation, execution and decision making on game day. Hopefully we can do a good job of that.”

For the Patriots, the contest with the Steelers begins a run of games that will serve as a real test of their postseason bonafides. Starting this weekend, New England will face Pittsburgh, the New York Giants, the New York Jets, Kansas City and Philadelphia, a stretch that will take them through Thanksgiving weekend. Included in that are four teams at .500 or better (surprisingly, the one team below .500 is Philadelphia) and three teams that should make the postseason.

In addition, in that five-game stretch there are two road contests against conference foes that, like the Patriots, are considered AFC royalty. The Patriots are in Pittsburgh to face the Steelers this Sunday, and after a home game against the 4-2 Giants, travel to New Jersey to meet Rex Ryan and the Jets on Nov. 13. If New England can win its next two road games, it should create some separation between the Patriots are two teams who should at least be in the conversation when it comes to talking about home field in the postseason.

It is a key stretch for the New England defense, which has seen its numbers improve over the last month or so after a subpar start. Overall, the last two games, the Patriots have managed to shave 53.8 total yards per game allowed off their defensive average, going from 477.5 yards allowed per game allowed to 423.7 yards allowed per game. In that same stretch, New England has seen its’ pass defense go from 368.8 yards allowed to 322.2 yards allowed per game. In addition, the run defense has also improved, going from 108.8 yards allowed per game to 101.5 yards allowed per game. (The Patriots, who gave up 160 rushing yards against the Raiders on Oct. 2, allowed a season-low 77 rushing yards last game against the Cowboys.)

That defense could get a big jolt this weekend with the possible return of linebacker Jerod Mayo. Mayo missed the last two games after suffering a left knee injury in a Week Four win over the Raiders, but took part in the last three practices before the team broke for the bye week.  

“Jerod is definitely getting better,” Belichick said of Mayo, who was leading the team in tackles when he went down. “We had a few days away from here, so he’s gotten an opportunity to get some more healing and treatment. We’ll see where he is when we get out on the field this week. He’s certainly making progress and it will be great to have him back out there whenever that happens.”

On the other side of the ball, the Patriots will look to keep doing what they’ve been doing: Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots remain in the top three in total yards per game (474.5, first in the league), pass offense (350.5, first in the league) and points per game (30.8, third in the league). Brady is in the top three in completions, yards, yards per attempt and touchdowns, while Wes Welker is first in the league in yards per game (130.8), receptions (51) and targets (74), and is second in yards (785).

“For everything you think you’re doing well, there are things that you need to really improve on,” said New England offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. “We’ll just continue to try to keep doing the things we do well and then improve on the things we’re not doing so well.”

If you’re the Patriots, there is comfort in the fact that the Steelers have utilized the same defensive game plan for most part for the last 20 years. (Belichick said Monday that the Pittsburgh defense has essentially stayed the same since Bill Cowher took over as head coach in 1992.) Of course, that’s a double-edged sword, as the Steelers are second in yards allowed (279 yards per game), third in points allowed (17.4 points per game) and best in the NFL against the pass (171.9 yards per game).

“They’re No. 3 in the league in defense and they’re No. 1 against the pass. They haven’t given up 100 yards to a receiver reception-wise, and they haven’t given up a 300-yard game to a quarterback,” O’Brien said. “They’re, again, stout against the run, just like they always have been. They’re a typical Steeler defense.

“We’re going to have to have a great week of preparation and then put together a good plan and go up there, and we’re going to have to play a really good game to have a chance.”