Blanco and Cramer got the Lite stuff

John Blanco is just two weeks away from finishing up the season with the title of top prognosticator in the Miller Lite’s Pigskin Picks, and he ripped off another winning effort by ending up tied with Jon Cramer at 11-5 atop the pack in Week 15.

The “Double Js” hit their mark in much the same way, but Blanco lost out when he opted for the lowly Arizona Cardinals over the even lowlier Houston Texans, while Cramer suffered a double whammy when his beloved Kansas City Chiefs lost to the New York Giants.

The pair of pickers each earned a case of fermented goodness from the folks at Pacific Trading Co. that should at least get them primed and ready for this weekend’s action in the National Football League.

There were few surprises last week, and all but Rich Brooks were within a game of the lead. Last year’s champion, Will Hunter, tied with the Lil’ Mahi at 10-6, but the pack left the Psycho Gnome in the dust as Brooks went 7-9.

Blanco still enjoys the lead that he grabbed way back in Week 7, when he broke the tie with Hunter with an 11-3 outing. He has since built upon his lead and his overall record of 163-61 stands seven games better then Will, at 156-68.

Cramer has been in the hunt all season and is now within two games of catching Hunter, at 154-70. He has a shot at advancing, which is more than the Lil’ Mahi and Brooks can say. The good news for the Mahi is that he was able to surpass Brook amidst a sea of trash talking from the Psycho Gnome. The little fish is in control of the fourth spot at 136-88, and needs only to continue to pick against the Cardinals to beat Brooks (119-105) down the stretch.

On the pro side, the Colts’ bid for immortality was squashed by the San Diego Chargers as Drew Brees and the Bolts scored a 26-17 upset of the blue horseshoes in the RCA Dome.

Manning and company fell behind a ton early but rallied to take a 17-16 lead before San Diego turned up the defense and turned out the lights. The only bad thing for the Chargers is that they may be the best team in the NFL to not make the playoffs. Two weeks ago they looked like a sorry bunch when they were embarrassed by a sub-par Miami team in Jack Murphy Stadium, er, I mean Qualcomm Stadium. Last week they looked like the Super Bowl contenders that everyone wants them to be, but it may be too late.

All they have to do to make the playoffs is to beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead, beat the Broncos at home, and hope that a whole bunch of teams lose. They have plenty on their hands with their final games against divisional rivals without hoping for the best from the rest.

The Chargers are not alone with their postseason woes as Pittsburgh (9-5) and Jacksonville (10-4) are fighting for the wildcard slots in the AFC while just about nothing is clear in the NFC.

Only Seattle has locked up a playoff slot, their division, and home field throughout the postseason in the mediocre conference, but there are a few front runners that raised eyebrows with big time records.

At 10-4, the New York Giants are not-so-high atop the NFC East, as Washington and Dallas are close at 8-6. A win over the Redskins this weekend gets them the division title, while the Bears (10-4) can do the same in the NFC North with a win over the Packers in Green Bay.

Brooks thinks they can do it, but he may not be the guy to follow given his track record. Even if the Bears lose, they can still clinch of the Minnesota Vikings (8-6) lose to the Ravens in Baltimore.

The Carolina Panthers (10-4) also have a chance to clinch their division if they beat the Cowboys at home to win the NFC South, but they also need the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to lose to the Falcons in Florida.