New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) stiff-arms New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley (57) during the third quarter of Sunday's win over the Jets at MetLife Stadium. (AP photo)

This week the noise should die down. The Bill Belichick press conferences should be, well, less combative.

That’s what not only winning does, it’s what playing the same quarterback for four quarters does.

Now, that’s not to mean that Mac Jones opened Patriots fans eyes to show them the error of their ways in preferring Bailey Zappe. Hardly. Jones was 24 of 35 for 194 yards, a TD, an interception, and the luck of having a pick six called back due to the NFL’s new rage, roughing the passer.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick talked about Jones after the game on how he “managed” the game. You see, that’s what he wants first from his quarterbacks. Manage, lead the team to score points.

“I thought Mac did a nice job,” Belichick said Monday. “We had pressure on quite a few pass plays, more than we would like, for sure. I thought he made good decisions and had to pull the ball down a couple of times and make some key runs for us.

“The Jets gave us some looks on the line of scrimmage that he had to deal with in the running game and I thought he handled those well. I thought he gave us a lot of good plays.”

If order is restored, it couldn’t come at a better time. The Patriots have plenty of issues – as Belichick hinted, there are definitely offensive line woes — and are certainly still mediocre. But they absolutely had to have Sunday’s game, and they did what they usually do – take advantage of an inexperienced and poorly coached quarterback. They get another one on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Indy’s Sam Ehlinger (17 of 23, 201 yards in a loss to the Commanders) and the Colts’ offense is anemic. Ehlinger, though, is much better coached than the Jets’ Zach Wilson.

We thought that would happen vs. the Bears but Justin Fields can run, and that killed New England defensively.

After Indy, the Patriots have a bye week, then get the Jets at Gillette on Nov. 20.

After that, there’s a lovely back-to-back on Thursdays, at Minnesota on Thanksgiving night and the following Thursday at home vs. Buffalo. Fun, fun, fun.

The idea is things won’t get any easier. The Patriots will need to win nine games likely to have a playoff chance, and 10 would be nice. There are really no gimmes left on the schedule, although obviously Las Vegas and Arizona, both road games, aren’t nearly as formidable as first thought. There is hope.

But right now, the Patriots are settling in to what they feel they want from their quarterback. Manage, and then go from there. Don’t turn the ball over. Jones didn’t quite pass that test on Sunday; he’ll need a stronger performance on Sunday at Gillette to keep the Zappe chants to a bare minimum.

But the bare minimum won’t be enough for the Patriots going forward, that’s for sure. Yet Sunday was one of those reminders that they have players who can still make a difference, even in a physical battle. Those are what they need to win.

“We knew this was going to be a physical game,” Belichick said. “Coming off a short week, I think our guys really tried to gear for it and play to it. … There were a number of times where (the Jets) got us but I’d say we at least fought and competed against them. ..

“There was a number of good plays, downfield blocking, I thought our receivers and tight ends really competed there.”

It’s going to take that level of compete. Other teams are gearing up; the Ravens traded draft picks as the Bears fire sale continues in acquiring linebacker Roquan Smith to fortify their defense. We’ll see if the Patriots keep pace.

RANKINGS

AFC

1.Buffalo (6-1). 2. Kansas City (6-2). 3.Baltimore (5-3). 4 Tennessee (5-2). 5. Miami (5-3)

NFC

1.Philadelphia (7-0). 2. Minnesota (6-1). 3.Dallas (6-2). 4. San Francisco (4-4) . 5. Seattle (4-3).