Notable NFL trios through recent history

AT THE foundation of many recent successful NFL teams is a good defense and triplets on offense. A steady quarterback, a workhorse at running back and a dangerous wide receiver give opposing defenses fits and usually fill up the franchise trophy case.

While it's quite premature to include the Eagles' key skill-position players among the great triplets, there's nothing wrong with having a little fun and looking at some of the most triumphant triumvirates in the Super Bowl era:

QB: Terry Bradshaw (Drafted 1st overall, 1970)

RB: Franco Harris (13th, 1972)

WR: Lynn Swann (21st, 1974)

Playoff record: 13-3

Legacy: Sure, the defense was the catalyst behind the Steelers' dynasty, but these three horses had a big hand in four Super Bowl victories. All three, as well as wide receiver John Stallworth, are in the Hall of Fame. Bradshaw won two of the Supe MVPs and Harris and Swann won the others.

Did you know? Bradshaw had four 300-yard passing games in 168 regular-season games, but two in the Super Bowls he won the MVP.

QB: Troy Aikman (1st, 1989)

RB: Emmitt Smith (17th, 1990)

WR: Michael Irvin (11th, 1988)

Playoff record: 12-4

Legacy: The cornerstone of the Cowboys' 1990s dynasty, which won three Super Bowls in 4 years. Dallas went 1-15 in 1989, the first year Jimmy Johnson replaced revered coach Tom Landry. All three are in the Hall of Fame and Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher. The breakup of the threesome began when Michael Irvin suffered a career-ending knee injury at Veterans Stadium in 1999. The Cowboys have won one playoff game since.

Did you know? Smith was the second running back picked in 1990. Penn State's Blair Thomas went to the Jets with the second overall pick.

QB: Joe Montana (82nd, 1979)

RB: Roger Craig (49th, 1983)

WR: Jerry Rice (16th, 1985)

Playoff record: 7-4

Legacy: Adding Rice to the 49ers was like Bill Gates winning the Powerball. San Fran already had claimed two Super Bowls in 5 years, including the one that preceded the draft that yielded Rice, the undisputed greatest wide receiver of all time. Craig was an underrated contributor with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and 5 years with more than 60 catches. When the threesome won its second consecutive Super Bowl following the 1989 season, the 49ers outscored its three playoff opponents 126-26. Now that's dominant.

Did you know? Jack Thompson (ugh), Phil Simms and Steve Fuller were the three quarterbacks drafted ahead of Montana in 1979. The Eagles picked kicker Tony Franklin (double ugh) eight spots ahead of where Montana was selected.

QB: Kurt Warner (undrafted FA)

RB: Marshall Faulk (via trade)

WR: Isaac Bruce (33rd, 1994)

Playoff record: 5-2

Legacy: Torry Holt, the sixth pick in 1999, should be included as the Rams had quadruplets during this high-flying era. Warner came out of nowhere when Trent Green was injured in the preseason and went on to a Hall of Fame-caliber career. St. Louis, with Dick Vermeil as head coach, won the Super Bowl after the 1999 season (thanks to a goal-line tackle by linebacker Mike Jones) and lost the Supe 2 years later on a last-second, 48-yard field goal.

Did you know? The Rams, from 1999-01, became the first team to score 500+ points in three consecutive seasons.

QB: John Elway (via trade)

RB: Terrell Davis (196th, 1995)

WR: Rod Smith (undrafted FA)

Playoff record: 7-1

Legacy: Elway, who previously had lost three Super Bowls, cemented his career by finally winning championships following the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Davis ran for 1,750 yards in '97 and 2,008 the following year. Smith is one of the best undrafted wideouts ever and was joined in the receiving corps by Ed McCaffrey and tight end Shannon Sharpe.

Did you know? This threesome was stunned by Jacksonville in its first playoff game together following the 1996 season. Denver had gone 13-3 and was the AFC's No. 1 seed.

QB: Steve Young (via trade)

RB: Ricky Watters (45th, 1991)

WR: Jerry Rice (16th, 1985)

Playoff record: 5-2

Legacy: Played the Aikman-Smith-Irvin Cowboys in three consecutive NFC Championship Games before finally winning the one that followed the 1994 season. Watters, the only one of the trio not in the Hall of Fame, had nearly 1,600 yards from scrimmage in 1994 and scored three touchdowns in the Super Bowl. He bolted for the Eagles the following season.

Did you know? Young served as Joe Montana's backup from 1987-91 and didn't become the 49ers' full-time starter until he was 31 years old.

QB: Jim Kelly (14th, 1983)

RB: Thurman Thomas (40th, 1988)

WR: Andre Reed (86th, 1985)

Playoff record: 11-8

Legacy: It is somewhat unfair that this trio is most connected with losing four consecutive Super Bowls, but this is a bottom-line sport and the Bills were blown out in three of those games. Buffalo went 97-47 and won six division titles in the nine seasons Kelly, Thomas and Reed were together. The Bills have not been to the postseason since Thomas and Reed last played for Buffalo in 1999.

Did you know? Thomas wasn't drafted until the middle of the second round in 1988 because he suffered a knee injury 2 years earlier. "I knew when I first hurt the knee I was going to have to answer the questions," said Thomas, shortly after the draft. "As long as I play, I know the questions have to be answered." He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.

QB: Peyton Manning (1st, 1998)

RB: Edgerrin James (4th, 1999)

WR: Marvin Harrison (19th, 1996)

Playoff record: 3-6

Legacy: Won four division titles in 7 years and transformed the Colts into perennial contenders. But playoff losses at New England spurred questions about the team's vulnerability to outdoor elements. Won the Super Bowl after the 2006 season when Joseph Addai replaced James at running back and as wide receiver Reggie Wayne became a more reliable option.

Did you know? The three players picked ahead of James in 1999 were Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith.

A look at the accomplishments of the three key Eagles skill position players:

Selected 88th overall in 2012.

8-2 as a starter this year.

Team record 119.2 passer rating.

Team record 64.04 completion percentage.

Team record 0.63 interception percentage.

Team single-game record 84.0 completion percentage (Dec. 22, vs. Chicago).

Tied NFL single-game record with seven TD passes (Nov. 3, at Oakland).

Posted 152.8 passer rating in November, highest ever for a QB in a month.

NFL offensive player of the month for November.

Led the NFL with a 119.2 passer rating, third highest in history (Aaron Rodgers, 2011; Peyton Manning, 2004).

First Eagle to lead NFL in passer rating since Tommy Thompson in 1949.

Led NFL in yards per pass attempt (9.1), a key statistic in measuring passing efficiency.

His 27/2 touchdown-to-interception ratio is the best in NFL history.

Started season with 19 touchdown passes before throwing first interception. Only Peyton Manning this year, with 20, has ever had more before throwing a pick.

Turns 25 on Jan. 20.

Pro Bowl first alternate.

Selected 53rd overall in 2009.

Team-record 1,607 rushing yards.

First Eagle to lead the NFL in rushing since Steve Van Buren in 1949.

Team-record and NFL-best 2,146 scrimmage yards (1,607 rushing, 539 receiving).

Fourth Eagle with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons (Wilbert Montgomery, Ricky Watters, Duce Staley).

Led NFL with 47 rushes of 10+yards. Those 47 attempts were about 15 percent of his 314 carries.

Team single-game record 217 rushing yards (Dec. 8, vs. Detroit).

NFL offensive player of the month for December.

Had four games of 150+ rushing yards. No one in the NFL had more than one.

Holds the NFL career record with seven fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns of 40 or more yards.

Is 25 years old.

Selected to second Pro Bowl.

Selected 49th overall in 2008.

First player ever selected for two different positions for the same Pro Bowl (2009, wide receiver/punt returner).

Set career highs in 2013 for receptions (82), receiving yards (1,332), receiving TDs (9) and 100-yard games (5).

Third season with 1,000 yards receiving tied Harold Carmichael and Mike Quick for tops in team history.

Only Quick (1,409 in 1983) had more receiving yards in a single season than Jackson this year.

Had career-high 10 catches at Minnesota (Dec. 15).

12 TD catches of 50+ yards are tied with Calvin Johnson for most since 2008.

Ranks first in team history with seven games of 150+ receiving yards.

Two-time Pro Bowler (2009, 2010).

Eagles are 25-6 in games Jackson catches a touchdown pass.

Is 27 years old.

Pro Bowl second alternate.