BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns and the New England Patriots beat the New York Jets 30-21 with a vastly improved defense Sunday.

Tom Brady had another strong game, completing 24 of 33 passes for 321 yards and one touchdown as the Patriots scored at least 30 points for the 13th straight regular-season game.

Meanwhile, New York’s Mark Sanchez had another tough one, passing for just 166 yards against the team that entered with the NFL’s lowest-ranked defense. One week earlier, he threw for only 111 yards in a 34-17 loss at Baltimore.

In the last meeting between the Jets and Patriots, Sanchez outplayed Brady in New York’s 28-21 playoff win on Jan. 16, adding to the fierce rivalry between the AFC East teams. But the crowd was unusually subdued throughout the first half Sunday, perhaps because of the lackluster play that included six penalties by each team. (AP)