A few thoughts on what was a fairly, well, dull Patriots 34-17 win over the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on Sunday:

-- Believe it or not, Sammy Morris had his second straight 100-yard rushing game (102 yards on 21 carries). Makes you wonder just how formidable the running game could be (if emphasized) with Laurence Maroney returning from his groin injury, whenever that is. Incidentally, with Maroney rushing for 100-plus yards against Buffalo, the Patriots have now had three straight games with a 100-yard rusher, the first time since 1995 that the team has reached that. A guy named Curtis Martin did it four straight times in 1995.

-- The addition the last two seasons of veteran and future Hall-of-Fame linebacker Junior Seau can't be underestimated. Seau, who had two interceptions off pass deflections, bought into head coach Bill Belichick's philosophy immediately upon his arrival in August of 2006 and seems to have a lot left in the tank in the right situations at age 38. Sunday he had six tackles (four solo).

 -- Randy who? The Patriots were able to put the ball in the end zone without relying on their receiving security blanket, Randy Moss. Moss was kept out of the end zone for the first time this season by Brown coach Romeo Crennel's defensive game plan, but that didn't stop Ben Watson (career-high 107 yards, two TDs) and Donte Stallworth (four catches for 65 yards and a TD) from picking up the slack. As Crennel said, "They have quite a few weapons and you have to try to pick your poison a little bit against these guys."

-- Best post game quote about the "Humble Pie" theme the Patriots keep using to downplay their success and point out their deficiencies came from its author, linebacker Adalius Thomas. "Ice cream will probably be out of the stores," Thomas said, "because we'll be serving ice cream with this one."

--- Tom King

Running back Laurence Maroney (groin) and starting center Dan Koppen (ankle), both with limited practice time this week have been declared out for today's game. Also inactive for the Patriots are safety Rashad Baker, tackle Wesley Britt, defensive linemen Santonio Thomas and Kareem Brown, and linebacker Chad Brown. In other words, the usual suspects. Matt Gutierrez was designated as the third quarterback. Maroney now will have to wait at least a week to record 1,000 rushing yards for his career, as he's three yards away.

As for the Browns, old friend Ted Washington (DL) heads the inactive list, which also included punter Dave Zastudil, DB Gary Baxter, running back Jerome Harrison, offensive linemen Issac Sowells and Nat Dorsey, plus wideout Travis Wilson. Ken Dorsey was the emergency third QB.

Meanwhile, there was a Marcellus Rivers sighting here at Gillette, as he is in the building, giving strength to the speculation that the tight end, recently signed but then released off the roster to make room for Rodney Harrison, will be brought back in a few days.

FYI: If he competes at least 75 percent of his passes today, Tom Brady would become the first player in NFL history, according to the Patriots media relations department, to complete at least 75 percent of his passes in five consecutive games. That might be tough to do on a drizzly day against a head coach (the Browns' Romeo Crennel) who knows his tendencies. Also, if he throws at least three TD passes, Brady would tie Steve Young's mark of three or more TDs in the first five games. Young set that record in 1998..

-- Tom King

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said on Friday that safety Rodney Harrison had been doing well in practice, certainly a sign he was going to be added to the 53-man roster in time for today's game. The Patriots late Saturday did just that, activating Harrison. To make room, they released tight end Marcellus Rivers, whom they had just signed to a reported two-year deal. It's possible that Rivers could be brought back at some point, as this was his second go-round with the team in a matter of a month. It would be a surprise if Harrison isn't on today's game-day 45-man roster.

Question marks today will include the offensive line and the status of starting center Dan Koppen (ankle) and starting guard Stephen Neal (shoulder). The inactives will be announced a couple of hours prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff.

-- Tom King

One can talk about strategy, a coach (Romeo Crennel)  who knows your system, et., etc., but when it really comes down to it, talent almost always wins out. That's why you hear so much talk of the Patriots going 16-0, which likely won't happen because there's always a chance a good game plan, a revved up team, etc. can ruin those plans -- hence the title of the movie "Any Given Sunday".

But today? Forget it, the Patriots just have too much talent to let the Cleveland Browns enjoy an upset. Crennel will come after Pats quarterback Tom Brady, no doubt, with some cleverly disguised blitz packages, perhaps the same way the Jets did in Foxborough last year. But this time New England will be ready for them.

FINAL SCORE: Patriots 27, Browns 17.

-- Tom King