The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Best QB-HB-WR Combos in the NFL

Defense wins championships. This is an undisputed fact. However, it doesn't hurt to have an incredible offense as well.

Nothing gets fans more excited than seeing a highlight play from a superstar. Fans want to see their team put up points in a hurry, and having a great player at either the quarterback, running back or wide receiver position makes that task much easier. However, if a team manages to have a star at all three positions, expect that offense to dominate almost every defense it plays.

More and more teams in the league are loading up at these three positions because they know how valuable it is to be able to score at will. Defense is important, but offense is arguably more necessary in today's game.

Here is a look at the top 10 QB-HB-WR combos.

10. Josh Freeman, LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams of the Buccaneers

Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers exploded last season, going 10-6 in one of the toughest divisions in football. This was a seven-game improvement over the previous year, a year they started 0-7.

The Buccaneers' resurgence came at the hands of their newly improved offense. At the helm of this offense was none other than former Kansas State Wildcat Josh Freeman, who finished the season with incredible statistics. With a tremendous upside, he will become the face of the franchise as they strive to return to their winning ways last seen in the early 2000s.

It wasn't all Freeman, however, as undrafted rookie LeGarrette Blount lambasted his way to becoming only the second UDFA to accumulate over 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season. Blount managed to do this despite only receiving more than 10 carries in 11 contests. He took the league by storm and will be a focal point of every opposing defensive coordinator. How will the second-year player fare without the element of surprise?

Josh Freeman's favorite target all season was rookie Mike Williams out of Syracuse. Williams was another surprise, like both Blount and Freeman, who put up just under 1,000 receiving yards last season, a number that led all rookie receivers. He also caught 11 touchdown passes, a Tampa Bay record for anyone, not just Buc rookies. With another year of experience under his belt, how high will his numbers go this season?

These three make up the youngest QB-HB-WR trio in the league, but also one of the best. Despite only having four combined years of experience, they put up great numbers that will only rise.

9. Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks of the Giants

The New York Giants haven't been to the playoffs since 2008, a year after they upset Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Will this be the year that changes?

Eli Manning definitely hopes so. Last season was bittersweet for him statistically. On one hand, he passed for over 4,000 yards for only the second time in his career and had a career high in passing touchdowns. Negatively, he also led the NFL in interceptions with a breathtakingly bad 25. He has also been turnover-prone, but the 30 total turnovers he gave up last year should prove to be an anomaly.

Brandon Jacobs used to be the feature back for the Giants, however, he has since been overtaken by the younger Ahmad Bradshaw. Bradshaw is coming off of his best year when he raced for 1,235 yards and eight touchdowns. With the definite increase in carries coming, how much better can this guy get?

While these two players are both great, neither is as good at their position as Hakeem Nicks is at wideout. Just entering his third year in the league, Nicks has already established himself as a top-10 receiver with perennial All-Pro aspirations. He is great now, and it is almost scary to think of how good he can become. With the losses of Steve Smith and Kevin Boss, Nicks will most likely get even more balls thrown at him this season, and as common sense dictates, that means an increase in production.

All three have many years left in the league and will continue to put up points week in and week out.

8. Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin of the Ravens

In the past, the Ravens have been known as a defensive powerhouse. Anchored by future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, no one was able to move the ball on them. The sole reason they could not win multiple Super Bowls was their offense, or lack thereof.

Oh how times have changed!

Now, the Ravens struggle defending the pass, but their offense is one of the best. Young quarterback Joe Flacco took a 5-11 team and has led them to 32 wins in three seasons. He has not yet joined the elite group of quarterbacks, but he is well on his way after his 25 TD, 10 Int season just a year ago. This team can go as far as he is willing to take them, and that is very far.

Ray Rice experienced a drop off after his spectacular sophomore season. When your down year is still 1,700 total yards from scrimmage, you know you have talent. He is one of the top receiving backs in the league, arguably the best. It is a valuable tool for any quarterback to be able to dump the ball off after all his other reads fail.

Anquan Boldin is entering his second year with Baltimore after having a brilliant career in Arizona. Despite finally playing in all 16 games, he had what could be considered his worst season ever. However, he still has all the talent in the world and the ability to put up 1,500 yards. With Derrick Mason leaving, he will definitely get the ball more and have more of a chance to shine.

Boldin is approaching the end of his career while the other two are just beginning. If the Ravens want to stay a premier offense, they'll need to find Flacco a new target.

7. Tom Brady, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Wes Welker of the Patriots

Few players remain from the Patriots team that won three Super Bowls in the early 2000s. The new Patriots are not the defensive juggernauts they once were. They also are not the one-dimensional offense they once were. Last season, they ranked ninth in total rushing and had their first 1,000 yard rusher since Corey Dillon seven years ago.

The focal point of this more-than-potent offense is reigning MVP and future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. I should not need to describe Brady, as his legacy transcends him. With two MVPs, three Super Bowl rings and a whole collection of records, Brady will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis was one of several backs around the league who surprised everyone. Green-Ellis had barely over 300 total yards in his two seasons, but then he exploded last season and eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark. It is yet to be seen if he is just a one-hit wonder or if he actually has what it takes to be a star in this league. He is the weakest link of this New England trio, and my bet is that it will stay this way.

Wes Welker is just another example of Bill Belichick finding a diamond in the rough. Welker had more receptions, yards and touchdowns in his first season as a Patriot than his entire career in Miami. If not for an injury-plagued 2010, Welker would have made it four straight years with 100-plus receptions and 1,000-plus yards. He is the only receiver in history to have three consecutive years with at least 110 receptions, and he still has plenty of football left to play.

Before last season, this combo would not have made this list. After this season, it might again be missing. The Patriots need production from BenJarvus Green-Ellis or they need another running back to step up if they want their trio to stay elite.

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace of the Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers, fresh off of a loss to the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers in the Super Bowl, have an aging defense that needs to be replaced. Like the Ravens and Patriots, they are changing as a team into more of an offensive power.

Ben Roethlisberger, when he isn't sexually assaulting women in Georgia, is winning games and taking the Steelers to Super Bowls. He's made a trend of coming through in the clutch and winning when it matters most. In fact, he has more game-winning drives (25) through his first sevens years than any other quarterback in history, including his idol, John Elway. Roethlisberger had an unfair reputation early in his career of being carried by his defense, but he always came through when his defense failed. Everyone remembers Super Bowl XLIII when Kurt Warner and the Cardinals took the lead with little time remaining. If not for Roethlisberger's heroics, the Steelers would not have won that game.

The offense isn't all Big Ben, though. Rashard Mendenhall is the most underrated running back in the league, and he is a lock for 1,200 rushing yards each season. Did you realize that he had the second most rushing touchdowns last season behind Arian Foster? Mendenhall gets no recognition for being a consistent and dangerous weapon, but he definitely should.

Mike Wallace was revealed as one of the biggest playmaker's ever seen in the league. After a very promising rookie season, Wallace emerged as the No. 1 target for Big Ben. He is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, as last season he averaged 21 yards per reception en route to almost 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns.

This is one of the more dangerous trios in the league, and none of these players are close to growing old. As Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall get better and better with each passing year, the Steelers are always going to compete for a championship.

5. Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe of the Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs surprised almost everyone last year. They stayed undefeated longer than most teams, and they finished the season 10-6 and won a division that everyone thought belonged to the Chargers. Led by the most potent rushing attack in all of football, they acquired their first playoff berth since 2006.

Matt Cassel, a product of Belichick and the Patriots, showed everyone he is actually a great quarterback. After having a sub-par first season in KC, he silenced all the doubters as he passed for 3,116 yards, 27 TD and posted a quarterback rating of 93.0, good for eighth in the league. Only one quarterback that threw more touchdowns had less interceptions, and that was Tom Brady, who had one of the greatest individual seasons ever. Cassel is by no means an elite quarterback, but he is a talented individual on the fringe of being in the top 10.

One of the biggest catalysts for Cassel's success was the running threat posed by Jamaal Charles. Charles ran for 1,467 yards on only 230 carries, a 6.4 YPC. That was the highest YPC ever posted by someone with 200 or more carries. Most people have him as a top-three HB after his season, but this time next year he could be widely regarded as the best. He will flirt with 2,000 rushing yards and might even break the yards from scrimmage record set by Chris Johnson two seasons ago. This guy is the real deal.

Who led the NFL in touchdown receptions last season? Andre Johnson? Was it Greg Jennings or Calvin Johnson? Actually, it was none of those three. It was Dwayne Bowe, one of the most underrated receivers out there. Bowe was Cassel's favorite red-zone target and for good reason, too. He has a big body with above-average hands and leaping ability. If he played for a more publicized team, he would be mentioned with names like Andre Johnson, Roddy White and Calvin Johnson. 

The Chiefs need to rely on Jamaal Charles and the passing game will open. That will open up more single coverage for Dwayne Bowe and more passing lanes for Matt Cassel. This combination will always leave defensive coordinators scratching their heads, and that is why they are the No. 5 trio.

4. Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant and Greg Jennings of the Packers

The Green Bay Packers, defending champions, have a great chance to repeat this season. They have the core to create a dynasty much like the Patriots in the early 2000s, and their trio is the very center of the entire team.

Aaron Rodgers has emerged as one of the few truly elite quarterbacks. He has passed for over 12,000 yards and 86 touchdowns in just three years as a starter. At the rate he is going, he will end up in Canton as a first ballot Hall of Famer with multiple Super Bowl rings. He has everything you look for in an NFL quarterback: leadership, accuracy and mobility. He currently ranks No. 1 in regular season and postseason quarterback rating all-time. The numbers don't lie, either. Rodgers can make throws most quarterbacks can't. He also has a never quit mentality and isn't afraid to take a hit. If he were taller, he would be the ideal quarterback.

Ryan Grant played in only one game last year, but he is one of the best running backs in the game when healthy. The two seasons before, he passed 1,200 yards in each season. If he returns in full force, he will be the feature back on a balanced offense that could lead the league in scoring.

Other than DeSean Jackson, I would rank Greg Jennings as the biggest "big play" receiver in the league. He is coming off of his best season and will only improve this season. His numbers might not increase by much, but that is because the Packers have the deepest receiving corps in the NFC. With the decline of Donald Driver, Jennings has been stepping more and more into the spotlight and is now recognized as a top-five wide receiver.

Green Bay has a chance to be one of the best offenses we've ever seen this season, and it is because they have stars at all offensive skill positions. If Ryan Grant exceeds expectations, this could be the best trio we've seen in years.

3. Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson of the Texans

If the Houston Texans had any semblance of a defense, they would win their division year in and year out. They ranked No. 4 in passing yards and No. 7 in rushing yards a season ago, but their secondary was dead last in pass defense. If that does not improve, they will again miss out on the playoffs.

However, that will not be quarterback Matt Schaub's fault. He is just a year removed from throwing up 4,770 yards with a 98.6 quarterback rating. He throws a myriad of touchdowns but not too many interceptions. Even when the rest of the team is plagued by injuries, he stays consistent. His biggest weakness is disappearing when the game is on the line, but he has gotten much better in that aspect recently.

The biggest surprise of last season was most definitely Arian Foster's breakout year. He rushed for 1,616 yards and 16 touchdowns in 16 games. He also racked up over 600 receiving yards en route to one of the highest yards from scrimmage totals in NFL history. He might just be a one-hit wonder, as he showed nothing special his rookie season or in college, but he also might improve and end up a perennial All-Pro. He's still young, so he has plenty of time to decide his fate and create a legacy.

The Texans also have the best receiver in the NFL and one of the most athletically-gifted players of all time in Andre Johnson. If he has a routine year, he will pass 10,000 career yards and become one of the quickest to ever accomplish this tremendous feat. He is not slowing down at all; if anything, he's improving. He was never completely healthy last season and still managed to catch 86 balls for 1,216 yards. He has been consistently double covered for the past three seasons, and it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon. This opens up holes for the rest of the offense to exploit, which gives Andre more worth than just pure stats.

This group has the potential to move up on the rankings. However, if Arian Foster cannot repeat his performance, this group will regress, possibly out of the top 10. This is one of the more difficult trios to predict.

2. Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson of the Eagles

Philadelphia has made a bigger splash in free agency than any other NFL team in recent memory. They addressed every team need and have practically been awarded the Lombardi Trophy already. They still have a long way to go to achieve that, but it's certainly not outside the realm of possibility. If Andy Reid does finally get over the hump, it will be thanks to the second best QB/HB/WR combo in the league.

Michael Vick is the most dangerous athlete to ever play the quarterback position. With a rocket for an arm and a 4.3 40, Vick is a defense's worst nightmare. He is coming off of his best season ever where he posted career highs in yards, touchdowns, completions, completions percentage and a career low in interceptions. It seemed like teams forgot how to defend him for the majority of the season. He will likely never again have a season this good because teams will be ready for him. However, that doesn't mean he will be a bad player. His accuracy is much improved over his days in Atlanta, and he takes much better care of the ball.

One of Vick's best targets is his all-purpose running back, LeSean McCoy. McCoy plays a lot like former Eagle Brian Westbrook. He is a threat in both the running and passing games, and he isn't even in his prime yet. Entering his third season, he will look to increase his production from last year, a season in which he put up 1,600 total yards and nine TDs. He averaged over five YPC and put up the most rushing yards by an Eagle since 2007.

Philadelphia is also the home of the most dangerous player in football. DeSean Jackson is literally a threat to score every time he touches the football. In his three-year career, he has already put up 4,585 all-purpose yards and 24 TDs. Last season, he led the league in yards per reception with an unheard of 22.6. If he gets into open space, it is pretty much a guaranteed touchdown. Giants fans are very aware of this.

With LeSean and DeSean both improving rapidly each season, this Eagles offense will be one of the premier offenses in the league for years to come. Any quarterback could look solid with these players around him, and a solid quarterback like Michael Vick can look great.

1. Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White of the Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons finished last season with a record of 13-3, best in the NFC. Many expected them to go far in the playoffs, but they laid an egg against the eventual Super Bowl Champions. This year, they only improved by drafting Julio Jones and signing Ray Edwards, two acquisitions that could put this Atlanta team over the top.

The leader of the team is the young Matt Ryan, who is entering his fourth season. Ryan was born a winner. He has led the Falcons to 33 wins in his first three seasons, a record he shares with Dan Marino. He has 13 game-winning drives, which is the exact same amount of losses he has in that same time period. His rookie season, "Matty Ice" took over a 4-12 team and took them to the playoffs. Though he experienced a horrible sophomore slump, he still became the first Falcon quarterback to lead the team to two straight winning seasons. He will eventually go down as the best Atlanta quarterback of all time, possibly the greatest Atlanta player. Ryan is the most valuable player on the entire team.

Michael  'Burner' Turner is also very valuable. Though he is aging quickly and has only a few years left at his level, he will still easily break 1,000 yards. His touchdown total may drop, and his carries will decrease, but he will still convert short third downs almost automatically. Turner is still a top-tier back that would start on almost every team.

The 2010 NFL reception leader is Matt Ryan's favorite target. Roddy White is a top-five WR with a high vertical, great hands and a toughness seen in few receivers. He has four straight 1,000-yard seasons, one of the longest current streaks in the league. He has been double covered almost every play the last two seasons, but that is no longer an option for most teams. White may put up even bigger numbers because of Julio, as illogical as that sounds.

Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White make up the best Quarterback-Halfback-Wide Receiver trio in the league, and this combination will prove very deadly once again. No amount of game-planning will prepare a team for what could be the highest scoring offense in the NFL.