Patriots’ Win Over Jets Is Typical of Both Teams

The New England Patriots gained their 11th consecutive victory in typical fashion Saturday night: They pulled out yet another close game thanks to their defense.

Willie McGinest returned an interception for a score and the Patriots picked off Chad Pennington four other times, keying a 21-16 victory over the New York Jets. Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes to David Givens, but the offense struggled most of the game, keeping the Jets in it until the end.

With Kansas City’s loss earlier in the day, the Patriots (13-2) now have the best record in the NFL. If the Indianapolis Colts lose today to Denver, the Patriots would clinch a first-round bye.

Even though the Patriots hold the head-to-head tiebreakers over the Chiefs and the Colts, Indianapolis still could steal the AFC home-field advantage from New England. The Colts must win their final two games, have the Patriots lose at home to Buffalo in their finale and have the Chiefs beat Chicago.

All three teams would finish at 13-3 and head-to-head tiebreakers would be thrown out because the Chiefs and Patriots did not meet. That would negate New England’s edge on the Colts, whom they beat, 38-34.

“Yeah we’ve got 11, which is always good, but our goal was to finish undefeated,” Givens said. “After the first couple of games, our run really speaks for itself. We’re finding ways to win every week.”

The Patriots won their seventh game by seven points or fewer, the mark of a good team that knows how to finish off victories.

The Jets (6-9) have not been as fortunate. They will finish with a losing record for the first time since 1996, when they were 1-15, and have dropped six games by seven points or fewer.

Pennington helped the Patriots win, throwing a career-high five interceptions -- including one in the end zone to Ty Law. Pennington had seven interceptions going into the game.

Fittingly, the Patriots ended the Jets’ final rally with an interception. Eugene Wilson picked off Pennington to preserve the victory.

The Patriots needed their defense to play well to even have a chance. New England had 13 first downs to 22 for the Jets, went three of 11 on third down and finished with fewer total yards (321-271).

Tedy Bruschi got the first interception on the second play of the game. It took eight seconds for the Patriots to convert the turnover, when Brady threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Givens.

The Jets tied it when Pennington ran for a one-yard score. With the Patriots struggling offensively, the defense stepped up again. McGinest returned an interception 15 yards for another score, the fifth time this season the Patriots returned a pickoff for a touchdown, tying a team record set in 2001.

New England, which got 121 yards rushing from Antowain Smith, has six defensive touchdowns this season, which leads the NFL.

“This win shows great maturity on our part,” Bruschi said. “We’ve got the veterans in here that can get the message through to the younger players.”