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

There have been many revered defenses throughout NFL history, but only one defense (well, technically two) has the honor and the privilege of being known as the “Doomsday Defense”.

The Doomsday Defense is, in actuality, a unit that spans across generations. Some could say that Doomsday IV is in the making right now, with young stars such as DeMarcus Lawrence, Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and Byron Jones manning the ranks. But no matter how good this defense becomes, few can amount to the inaugural Doomsday I.

By the definition of Doomsday, there should be no more sunshine once it’s past. And when Doomsday I hit the field, you knew the end was near.

With Bob Lilly, the legendary Mr. Cowboy, providing relentless pressure up front, and with Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive backs Herb Adderley and Mel Renfro picking passes left and right, the Doomsday I defense lived up to its name.

With an offense led by “Captain Comeback” Roger Staubach, the Cowboys made short work of all who opposed them in 1971, winning 11 regular-season games on the way to pulverizing the Miami Dolphins in Super VI, by a score of 24-3.

Those same Dolphins went on to mount a perfect season just a year later, only accentuating the gravity of Doomsday’s dominance in its prime. It was a unit that truly lived up to its name.