The Patriots offense celebrates Stefon Diggs' (8) first TD reception of the season Sunday vs. the Browns at Gillette Stadium. (AP photo)

FOXBOROUGH,Mass. – Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson didn’t get much playing time a week ago in the New England Patriots win at Tennessee.

But in Sunday’s 32-13 rout of the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium, he was the team’s leading rusher with 10 carries for 77 yards and a long of 27 yards on a day when the team rushed for a season high 177 yards vs. the league’s top defense. Did he know going in he would play more?

Not really.

“Honestly, I come to practice each and every day, just focus on being consistent,” Henderson said. “Being the best that I can be. However it goes come game time, whether I get little opportunities, whether I get much, you never know. The biggest thing is each and every week I’m going to come prepared as hard as I can, and we’ll see.”

The former Ohio State standout said he’s getting more comfortable as an NFL back. “I’m definitely getting more comfortable as the season evolves,” he said. “Getting more reps, getting more opportunities, different looks, going up against different players.”

The downside is late in the game he fumbled. “It’s tough, it’s a learning lesson for me definitely. It’s tough to go out like that. That’s something we’ve been harping on all season, taking care of the ball.”

Henderson did say the Patriots are trying to get him out wide or in the open field.

“Going into this game I think so,” he said. “They’ve been trying to get me a lot more opportunities to get out in space. I’m grateful I can get the opportunity.”

How big is the adjustment to the NFL? “I feel each level there’s an adjustment you’re going to have to make, high school to college college to the NFL,” he said. “There’s going to be things you have to adapt to – the game gets faster, guys are getting bigger, guys are getting stronger. Eventually you get adjusted to it and are able to play at the same pace as the other guys.”

Perhaps that time is coming for him.

PLAYER INTROS

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had the Patriots introduced individually running onto the field pregame, rather than the whole team run out at once.

“Just feel like these guys put a lot into it and would like to recognize them individually,” Vrabel said. “Hopefully our fans can embrace that and get excited for them. It’s something that I felt like we wanted to do, create some energy early and get them to recognize the players’ efforts, and allow these fans to support us, which they did.

“It was getting loud on third down. We’ve got to continue to play hard for them so that they cheer for us.”

BARMORE BENCHED

Defensive lineman Christian Barmore was benched at the start of the game and didn’t play in the first quarter. He did, however, enter the game in the second.

Why? Evidently it was a disciplinary decision on Vrabel’s part.

“I had to make a decision,” Vrabel said. “My job is to protect the team, so when there’s actions that I don’t feel like are commiserate with what we want to do here, I’ve got to make a decision, and we move on.” Barmore had one tackle assist on the day.

WHITE INACTIVE

Defensive lineman Keion White, who wasn’t on the injury report during the week was among the Patriot inactives. Safety Kyle Dugger (knee), rookie receiver Efton Chism III, guard Caedan Wallace, DT Eric Gregory, and LB Caleb Murphy were also inactive. Tommy DeVito was the emergency third quarterback. Notable for the Browns was rookie QB Shedeur Sanders, who was said to have back issues. That meant former Patriot Bailey Zappe was the Browns’ No. 2 QB.

NOTES

Patriots QB Drake Maye has his seventh straight game with a 100-plus QB rating. Tom Brady did eight games twice (2007 2010) and the record is Aaron Rodgers with 12 straight games in 2011 with Green Bay…

Defensively, the Patriots are the only NFL team that has not allowed as many as 50 yards to an opposing running back. It’s the first time in team history and since the NFL-AFL merger, the mark is Tampa Bay, 10 games in 2020….

The Patriots have beaten the Browns six straight times, tied for their longest streak vs. one other team — next week’s opponent, the Atlanta Falcons.