This Week In The SSW

For years — OK, a couple of days — Slate writer Robert Weintraub has been tinkering with a concept called The SSW, short for "The Sean Salisbury Wisdom," which tracks the consensus of the football punditocracy to ensure those triumphant declarations from Friday aren't flushed down the memory hole on Monday. Here's this week's SSW.

PREVIOUS SSW

Bears reduced to hoping opposition foolish enough to kick to Hester; can't win otherwise.

NEW SSW

Rex Grossman's last-gasp ploy, dumping Gatorade on Griese's helmet receiver, backfires.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S LESS

Proof Papa Bear's ghost prefers Griese—fourth quarter bad snap goes through Griese's legs. Had it hit his leg, or had Griese been in the shotgun, it would have been a fumble, and Eagles set up to deliver the bullet to the back of the head. But as it didn't touch Griese, and went beyond the QB, it was only a 5-yard penalty, allowing Bears to kick a key figgie.

PREVIOUS SSW

Giants at their worst when prospering, as they have a tendency to believe they crap gold nuggets.

NEW SSW

Nothing like the Falcons and Niners back-to-back to make playing for Tom Coughlin a delight. At current exchange rate, beating Dolphins in Blighty will be worth only half a W.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S LESS

Trent Dilfer a corrective to old, washed-up QB craze sweeping the league, as his two self-inflicted turnovers on consecutive plays eliminate any hope for SF.

PREVIOUS SSW

Fish D always gives Tom Brady fits, and Jason Taylor good for at least one killshot per game.

NEW SSW

Time for someone to step up and Save Our Sundays by taking a cheap shot at Brady and/or Moss.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S LESS

Hey, a Matt Cassell sighting! The dude who got Palmer and Leinart's leftovers at SC (but no playing time) has always been whispered about in New England as Brady-esque. Maybe he knocked up his ex, but otherwise any similarities are off-base. Still — putting Brady back into a 42-21 game?

PREVIOUS SSW

Big Ben has eliminated the SteveO from his game, leaving only a smart, decisive player. Cutler is still running the streets with Trishelle.

NEW SSW

Endless break between NLCS and World Series allows Broncs to slurp from Rockies feel-good well to every reporter in country.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S LESS

Not having Champ Bailey a blessing in disguise as D-line suddenly feels some urgency to get to the quarterback. Does having a shutdown corner lull D-coordinators into complacent pass rush schemes?

PREVIOUS SSW

Rumors abound Bengals ready to trade Ocho Cinco for the dude in those "NFL Latino" ads.

NEW SSW

Best way to get mouthy receiver to shut hole is by winning with a punishing ground game.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S LESS

Pigskin egghead Bill Walsh once identified 4th quarter pass rush as the most important element to winning games. Two late-game sacks from the Bengals, and numerous hurries, means team could overindulge on victory brews afterward.

PREVIOUS SSW

Kerry vs. Sage a late-night pillowfight at Southern Mississippi sorority house, not NFL QB matchup.

NEW SSW

Commit five turnovers vs. Falcons and win, give up 29 4th quarter points and win—next week, Titans to attempt to beat Raiders with only nine men on the field.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S LESS

Don't forget—Craig Hentrich set new NFL record with 8 holds of field goals in a single game. An unappreciated field of endeavor—just ask Tony Romo.

PREVIOUS SSW

Rare sellout crowd, rediscovered running game, Russell Crowe in the house—Jags poised to make a run at the Colts in tough division.

NEW SSW

Bad loss, tough sked, QB depth chart selected by Al Sharpton—Jags in a tough position in a tough division.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S LESS

Hunter Smith had punted less than anyone else entering game, but clearly kept his leg loose—kick killed inside Jags 5 set up safety that snuffed out J-ville's hopes.