Sam Darnold demonstrated no trouble adjusting to the NFL in his first career game. And because of the Jets backfield, the quarterback’s transition could remain easier than most assumed it would be.

While Darnold rightfully owned the headlines with his sparkling debut Monday night, running backs Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell provided the rookie with tremendous support in the Jets’ 48-17 win over the Lions, combining for 162 yards and two touchdowns on just 22 carries.

“It always helps to have a running game as a quarterback, no matter who you are,” coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday. “With the offensive line blocking, and the runners doing what they did, I thought it took a lot of weight off of him.”

Though Crowell had only six 100-yard games in his first four seasons with the Browns, the 25-year-old free-agent signing looked like a bargain in his Jets debut.

Crowell scored the team’s first touchdown — tying the game on a 6-yard run in the first quarter — and then broke free for a 62-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the third. Crowell finished with 102 yards on 10 rushes, and tied Mark Ingram for the most 50-plus yard runs (six) in the NFL since 2014.

Powell averaged 5 yards per carry, and added one reception for 5 yards.

Jets linebacker Darron Lee received Pro Football Focus’ highest grade of any defensive player in the NFL after picking off Matthew Stafford twice and returning one interception for a 36-yard touchdown. Last season, the 2016 first-round pick was graded 52nd, out of the 52 linebackers.

“The game slowed down for him,” Bowles said. “I don’t think he’s doing anything he hasn’t done. He has more knowledge of the game, and the film study is easier, and he’s working his tail off to be the best player he can be, and we’re happy with it.”

Lee boasted after the win that the Jets knew what plays the Lions were running, but Bowles said the linebacker may have been exaggerating.

“We didn’t know any audibles. We didn’t know any plays,” Bowles said. “Those guys did a good job following the assignments that the coaches taught them. They were anticipating certain things when they had certain formations, and they were in the right positions to make those types of plays, but I don’t think we knew the plays.”

Bowles said Jermaine Kearse (abdomen) was “close” to playing, but his status for Sunday’s home opener against the Dolphins is uncertain. … The status of safety Marcus Maye (foot) also was unclear after he missed Monday’s game.

“[Kearse] was making the case to play, but I decided not to play him,” Bowles said. “Too early to tell [this week].”