The strength of three: The 30 greatest trios in NFL history

One trademark trait of almost all the historically great NFL defenses is that they succeeded in spite of the ineptitude, or at least unbridled mediocrity, of their offense. As good as Dallas’s Doomsday defense was, they didn’t win alone. They had “Captain Comeback and the Crew” beside them.

Roger Staubach, who played with the Cowboys from 1969 to 1979, bridged the gap between Doomsday I and Doomsday II. Now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Staubach was known for his clutch gene in tight situations. His 85-29 record as the Cowboys’ starter speaks to one of the simplest, yet most complex traits a quarterback can have: The ability to win.

With fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett imposing his will on the ground, Staubach’s offense won a Super Bowl in 1971. With Drew Pearson later arriving and breaking out as a passer, the Cowboys won another ring in 1977, this time with Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Randy White on Doomsday II.

“Captain Comeback” and the Doomsday Defense had a cohesive relationship of sorts. Without the Doomsday Defense, Staubach may not have found himself in a position to win all those times. But without Staubach, Dorsett, and Pearson lighting up the scoreboard on offense, perhaps Doomsday would have brought no doom at all.