EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? The New England Patriots can thank their defense for wrapping up their 11th straight win.

Willie McGinest returned an interception for a score, and the Patriots picked off Chad Pennington four other times, keying a 21-16 victory Saturday night. Tom Brady also 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.

The Jets (6-9) will finish the season with a losing record for the first time since 1996, when they went 1-15.

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.

“It was a tough night, there’s no doubt about it,” Pennington said. “I just didn’t get the job done for us. One thing I didn’t want to do was lay back when some of those interceptions happened. It kind of backfired.”

Fittingly, the Patriots ended the Jets’ final rally with an interception. Eugene Wilson picked off Pennington to preserve the victory. Pennington finished 24-of-43 for 229 yards and two running scores.

Tedy Bruschi got the first pickoff on the second play of the game. It took eight seconds for the Patriots to score, when Brady threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Givens for a quick 7-0 lead.

The Jets answered with a 16-play drive that chewed up 9:20 and ended with Pennington running for a one-yard TD to tie it. 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 has a total of six defensive touchdowns this season, which leads the NFL.

The Patriots were not done making big plays. After Brady threw his second TD pass of the game to Givens to make it 21-10 in the third quarter, the Jets drove down the field. Pennington threw a pass for Santana Moss in the end zone on third down from the Patriots’ 21, but Law was there to intercept it — stopping yet another drive.

Brady finished 12-of-25 for 138 yards and two scores, while Antowain Smith had 18 carries for 121 yards.