The 1-2 punch: we rate the best duos in the NFL in a number of different categories

Football Digest, Jan, 2004

ANYONE IN THE NFL will tell you that football is the ultimate team game. Unless 11 players are working together, be it on offense of defense or special teams, failure usually ensues.

Yet within this mosaic of mayhem, there are mini-cooperatives that drive certain teams. Perhaps it's a quarterback and his favorite receiver. Or a pair of steady cover cornerbacks. Of two pass-rushers who complement each other perfectly. Or even a kicker and a punter.

FOOTBALL DIGEST began thinking about some of the best duos in the NFL. Here's what we carne up with, in 10 different categories.

QUARTERBACK-RECEIVER

Peyton Manning-Marvin Harrison

Indianapolis Colts

This was the easiest choice of all. The statistics alone reveal why they are runaway winners in this category, but there's more to it than that for the most prolific pass-catch combo in Colts history.

(Yes, they've even surpassed John Unitas-to-Raymond Berry, although Manning and Harrison have a long way to go to equal that duo in championships.)

The back-to-back shows they put on against the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this year were Hall of Fame-caliber. First Manning was the Player of the Week, then Harrison.

"I'm getting numb with our guys," Colts coach Tony Dungy says. "Marvin and Peyton do some unbelievable things quite often."

Such as set records. Harrison obliterated the single-season receiving mark last year with 143 catches, and who believes he isn't capable of surpassing it again? Certainly not the guys who have to cover him.

As for being paired with Manning, well, Harrison knows he's fortunate. Says Harrison, "Peyton is so smart and focused that all I have to do is catch the ball."

Yeah, that's all.

Runners-up: Steve McNair (QB)-Derrick Mason (WR), Tennessee Titans.

RECEIVERS

Isaac Bruce-Torry Holt

St. Louis Rams

What's most amazing about these two is that they seem interchangeable. It also doesn't matter who's throwing them the ball.

When Kurt Warner was in his prime, staying healthy and passing with the utmost accuracy, Bruce and Holt were game-breakers. Bring in Mare Bulger and nothing much changes.

Even with inexperienced backups at wide receiver and a revolving door at light end, Bruce and Holt have produced. Holt has become the more versatile receiver, which is not a knock on Bruce. Ask Holt and he'll vote for Bruce as the superior pass-catcher.

"I have a ways to go, and I am going to continue to take it one year at a time," Holt says. "I just need to continue to do what I can do to help this football team win and just continue to talk to Isaac, Hopefully, he can give me some pointers on ways that I can get there quicker."

Runners-up: Hines Ward-Plaxico Burress, Pittsburgh Steelers.

RUNNING BACKS

Clinton Portis-Mike Anderson

Denver Broncos

Both players won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors--Anderson in 2000, Portis last season--but there are plenty of other factors that make them formidable.

Portis clearly is Denver's No. 1 tailback, but that hasn't disturbed the unassuming, team-oriented Anderson. He simply slipped over to fullback at the behest of coach Mike Shanahan and upgraded his blocking and receiving skills.

When Portis has been injured, which has been too often for Shanahan's liking, Anderson has moved back to his old position and produced. If the Broncos want to pound the ball, the 230-pound Anderson is the right weapon. If they want to run sweeps and screen passes, Portis, with his breakaway potential, fits the bill. No other team can match this combination.

Runners-up: Garrison Hearst-Kevin Barlow, San Francisco 49ers.

STARTING-BACKUP QUARTERBACKS

Matt Hasselbeck-Trent Dilfer

Seattle Seahawks

Until this season, this would have been a ludicrous pick. Hasselbeck struggled mightily after being named the starter by coach Mike Holmgren, and Dilfer was handed the first-string job by default. Then Dilfer got hurt, which left Holmgren with no choice but to play Hasselbeck. But late last season, the youngster began producing.

Hasselbeck's strong work in 2003 not only has been due to Holmgren's teaching, but also to Dilfer's. Dilfer is the perfect backup: He's experienced, humble, intelligent, has strong leadership skills, and has a history of success. Says Hasselbeck, "He's meant a lot to me as a person and as a teammate."

Runners-up: Mare Bulger-Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams.

COVER CORNERBACKS

Sam Madison-Patrick Surtain

Miami Dolphins

Late in the 2002 season, as Miami was in the midst of one of its annual collapses, both of these cornerbacks seemed to be losing their touch. Known as experts in press coverage, they suddenly were messing up with their aggressive techniques and getting burned--particularly Madison.

It appears to have been an aberration because Madison and Surtain once again are at the head of the coverage class. The interception numbers aren't always high for Madison and Surtain--opposing quarterbacks tend to not test them if they can instead go over the middle--but by shutting down the outside passing areas, they set a standard that is difficult to equal.