Bart Hubbuch

Bart Hubbuch

NFL

NFL Power Rankings: Jets fly past Giants

The Lions’ luck is about as good as their home town’s finances.

Losing Nate Burleson for an extended period due to a broken arm suffered in a car accident early Tuesday morning probably isn’t going to be a crushing blow, but the poor timing and slapstick nature is something the Lions and their fans have come to expect.

Just when it seems the Lions are living up to their promise, one of their most productive receivers is sidelined by a car accident due to pizza falling from his dashboard.

Sounds like the same ol’ Lions, all right.

But maybe not. While Burleson has been a valuable contributor to Detroit’s surprising 2-1 start, the Lions look like a sturdy team that can withstand an obstacle or two, even self-inflicted ones like Ndamukong Suh’s ongoing bid to have the NFL’s Dirtiest Player award named after him.

Detroit jumps eight spots to No. 16 in The Post’s NFL Power Rankings — one spot ahead of the Jets, MetLife Stadium’s highest-ranking home team by 13 spots (keep scrolling, Giants trackers) — who going into this week’s important NFC North visit from the unbeaten Bears. The Lions’ gut-check 27-20 win at Washington offered further proof Matthew Stafford and Co. can’t be ignored this season.

Stafford is off to a terrific start, more than living up to the $53 million extension Detroit gave him in the offseason by completing 65 percent of his passes for an average of 340 yards per game while throwing six touchdowns against just two interceptions.

It isn’t just the Calvin Johnson Show, either. Megatron has 17 catches for 268 yards and three TDs, which are pedestrian numbers for the league’s most feared receiver. No, the Lions are already halfway to matching their 2012 win total because they’re spreading the ball around in the passing game around and the defense has produced seven turnovers in three games.

That’s not to say Detroit is without warning signs. The running game has been non-existent (though Reggie Bush’s expected return this week should boost that), Burleson led the team in catches and the defense gives up yards in bunches.

So it could still all fall apart, of course. These are the Lions, remember. But for now, the North has a third contender behind Chicago and Green Bay.

(Last week’s rank in parentheses)

1. Broncos (1): Peyton Manning’s three-game statistical line — 73 percent completion rate, 12 TDs, 0 interceptions — looks like a misprint.


2. Seahawks (2): Too bad Seattle moved to the NFC from the AFC West, because two matchups with Manning’s Broncos this season would have been epic.

3. Patriots (6): They’re 3-0, but it’s a shaky 3-0. Trips to Atlanta and Cincinnati the next two weeks will tell us more.

4. Bears (7): Marc Trestman’s offense is getting the attention, but the defense has forced 11 turnovers in three games.

5. Saints (8): Too bad the NFL doesn’t choose a Comeback Coach of the Year, because defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would be the runaway favorite.

6. Bengals (9): Comeback win over the Packers was ugly, but still should do wonders for their confidence.

7. Dolphins (10): It’s time to start including Ryan Tannehill on the list of the NFL’s top young quarterbacks. He — and his team — are legit.

8. Colts (11): After a big week with the trade for Trent Richardson and an impressive win in San Francisco, now they get the woeful Jaguars. Let the good times keep rolling.

9. Packers (3): About that decision to bring back Dom Capers as defensive coordinator …

10. Chiefs (12): After Justin Houston rang up 4 1/2 sacks against the Eagles, Derrick Thomas’ single-game sack record could be in jeopardy against the the Giants’ awful offensive line this Sunday.

11. Ravens (19): They’re better than anyone expected in light of their cap woes, but four of the next five are on the road. Crunch time comes early for Baltimore.

12. 49ers (4): The Aldon Smith controversy shouldn’t overshadow the fact they have scored just 10 points combined in their past two games. What happened to Colin Kaepernick?

13. Texans (5): Not exactly living down their reputation as a team that feasts on bad teams and can’t win big games.

14. Titans (14): How much better will they be if Chris Johnson (3.7 yards per carry) ever breaks out?

15. Cowboys (15): In the land of the blind (the awful NFC East), one-eyed Dallas could very well end up kings.

16. Lions (24): No running game? No problem!

17. Jets (26): Penalties or not, Rex’s defense is going to keep this team in every game.

18. Chargers (16): Still lacking the killer instinct. Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.

19. Falcons (13): The defense was already a big problem, and now Steven Jackson might have to sit through Week 7. It could get ugly fast in Atlanta.

20. Eagles (17): Peyton Manning vs. the Eagles’ horrible secondary should be rated NC-17, maybe even X.

21. Rams (18): Sam Bradford’s career passer rating is rapidly descending to Mark Sanchez levels. It’s about time St. Louis’ “franchise” QB feels some heat.

22. Panthers (30): The 38-0 rout of the Giants just showed Carolina should be a lot better than its record.

23. Cardinals (23): Carson Palmer has a lot of weapons and isn’t doing much with them.

24. Buccaneers (20): It’s getting out of hand fast in Tampa, where both Josh Freeman and Greg Schiano appear to be running out of time.

25. Bills (25): How do you lose a game where your opponent commits 20 penalties?

26. Redskins (21): Hey, at least RG3 made it back for Week 1! There’s a trophy for that, right?

27. Browns (31): Josh Gordon provided so much spark in a surprise road win over the Vikings that Cleveland’s new management team can’t wait to trade him.

28. Vikings (27): Adrian Peterson’s little daughter was right: How did they lose at home to the Browns?

29. Steelers (28): Terrible team with an even worse salary-cap situation. Well, there’s always the baseball playoffs and hockey season, Pittsburgh.

30. Giants (22): Make no mistake: This team is every bit as awful as its record. The Giants can’t block, they can’t run and they can’t rush the passer.

31. Raiders (29): After beating Jacksonville in Week 2, Monday night’s massacre in Denver showed what happens when Oakland plays actual NFL competition.

32. Jaguars (32): Eight consecutive losses by at least seven points.