Bart Hubbuch’s playoff rankings

The Post continues its examination of certain aspects of the NFL playoff teams. Here’s a look at the DEFENSES:

1. Giants

Unit jelled into the NFL’s best in the second half of the season and has been practically impenetrable over the past month. It forced 22 turnovers in the final nine games and has allowed 300 yards just once in four games.

2. Patriots

They got rid of Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins — two of the league’s best young defensive playmakers — and somehow got better on defense. Finished No. 1 in points allowed for the first time since 2003.

3. Cowboys

A fifth-place finish in scoring defense was especially impressive considering how ravaged by injuries and suspensions Dallas was all season. The injuries haven’t gone away, either, so the playoff bye week should help.

4. Chiefs

They gave up a lot of yards but not many points and were ridiculously opportunistic, helping Kansas City finish with a plus-16 turnover margin. AllPro safety Eric Berry is the heart of this unit, though, so a heel injury that could keep him out of the divisional round is a big concern.

5. Steelers

The defense was a huge liability during a 4-5 start, but Pittsburgh turned things around after that and allowed 275 yards or fewer in four of the final seven games. The Steelers spread the pressure around, too: They finished with 38 sacks but no defender had more than five.

6. Texans

With the hapless Brock Osweiler at quarterback most of the season, Romeo Crennel’s defense carried Houston into the playoffs. That feat was even more impressive considering the Texans did it without J.J. Watt, but Jadeveon Clowney finally is living up to his billing and the secondary is downright suffocating.

7. Packers

Green Bay’s midseason defensive turnaround was stunning — a unit that allowed 40-plus points in consecutive games during a 4-6 start suddenly transformed into a turnover machine. The Packers had 15 takeways during the sixgame win streak that carried them to the postseason, and good luck running on them.

8. Seahawks

Don’t let the No. 5 finish in yards allowed fool you: This isn’t the same ferocious Seattle defense since safety Earl Thomas was lost for the year in early December. The Seahawks gave up an average of 25 points in their final four games and limp into the playoffs.

9. Lions

Detroit fell apart the final month of the season, especially against the run, and limps into the playoffs on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions are now ridiculously easy to run on, having allowed an average of 144 rushing yards in its final three games.

10. Dolphins

Miami’s once-sturdy defense collapsed the final two weeks of the regular season, giving up 589 yards in a narrow win over the Bills and 396 yards in a blowout loss to the Patriots. The Dolphins also have allowed 100 or more rushing yards in an astounding seven consecutive games.

11. Raiders

Oakland was a defensive sieve all season but made up for it by forcing turnovers in bunches, resulting in a plus16 takeaway margin. Khalil Mack might be the NFL’s best defensive player, but the rest of the Raiders’ defense doesn’t inspire much confidence.

12. Falcons

Atlanta’s 11-5 finish was almost entirely one-sided — and that side wasn’t the defense. While the Matt Ryan-led offense was putting up pinball-like numbers, the Falcons defense struggled to stop anyone and finished 25th in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed.