Was Chiefs trio snubbed in NFL Network's triplet rankings?

The word “triplets” became synonymous during the 1990s with the Dallas Cowboys trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. For most of the decade, they were the most dominant offensive trio in the NFL.

Under the guidance of head coach Jimmy Johnson , the triplets led Dallas to back-to-back Super Bowl wins. They would add a fourth under Barry Switzer. Since then, we’ve commonly looked at each team's quarterback, primary running back and main pass-catcher (usually a wide receiver) as triplets.

NLF Network recently ranked all 32 teams’ primary offensive trios. The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs trio of QB Patrick Mahomes, TE Travis Kelce and RB Isiah Pacheco finished third behind the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 1) and the San Francisco 49ers.

Kansas City only has, hands down, the best QB in the world and arguably the best tight end in the league. Mahomes and Kelce are three-time Super Bowl champions and have shown no signs of slowing down. Pacheco might be the least accomplished of the three, but he had a productive sophomore year in Kansas City, rushing for 935 yards on 4.6 per carry last season. He may not be Saquon Barkley (Eagles) or Christian McCaffrey (49ers), but Pacheco’s been good enough to earn significant playing time as a 2022 seventh-round draft pick.

Is it even possible to overlook the Chiefs at this point? Or are we slowly growing tired of them like the NFL’s last dynasty in New England? Mahomes and Kelce alone would be enough to claim the top slot for most.

Although that Philly trio of Barkley, QB Jalen Hurts and WR A.J. Brown sound lethal on paper. If Barkley is healthy and sustains that throughout the season, the Eagles’ could earn that No. 1 ranking.

In San Francisco this trio's fate could come down to QB Brock Purdy’s continued development, whether WR Brandon Aiyuk can live up to his new massive extension and whether RB Christian McCaffrey can stay healthy with such a heavy workload. But they're about more than three on offense, with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle just as important as Purdy, McCaffrey and Aiyuk.

Still, even with all that firepower, the 49ers could not overcome the Chiefs in Super Bowl 58. This could end up being another piece of motivation as Kansas City enters the season trying to become the first NFL team to three-peat.