FOXBORO — Patriots star defensive tackle Milton Williams heard all week in the leadup to a matchup with the AFC East rival Jets how he hadn’t registered a sack all season.

Who was chirping Williams? None other than Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

So Williams got the better of the Jets, and Vrabel, in Sunday’s 26-19 win at Gillette Stadium by sacking quarterback Geno Smith in the first quarter. That allowed Williams to do some talking after the game and he jokingly fired back at Vrabel by calling him an explicit name.

“Just talking noise, like, ‘Man, when you gonna get a sack? When you gonna get the quarterback on the ground?’” Williams said. “You know him. Ya’ll know Vrabes. man. He’s an (expletive). He gonna be an (expletive) and that’s how he is. But you know, I wouldn’t have it no other way. He just challenges, challenges, challenges, week in and week out, day in and day out, and I think that is going to continue to just help us get better and better as the year goes on.”

Williams’ sack came on the Jets’ second drive of the game and set a different tone for the Patriots defense after it allowed New York to march down the field on its opening drive and convert a field goal.

Just one play after Williams took down Smith, Christian Barmore joined in and sacked Smith to force a Jets punt. It was Barmore’s second sack of the season and first since a Week 2 win over the Steelers.

“Man, it was just on us. It was eating at us week in and week out just being close but not finishing the job,” Williams said. “So we had those conversations all week. Vrabel talked a little noise, got in our ear a little bit. But we just continued to challenge each other, man. Like, this is going to be the game, this is going to be the game where we get it done. And like you said, back-to-back plays, we went out there and just executed when we were supposed to and took advantage of the opportunity.

“I was too tired to even celebrate, but Barmore got his on the next play, celebrated with him. That’s what it’s all about. Rooting for your teammates, executing at a high level, and dominating when we get the opportunity.”