The first-ever online Boothbay Register/Wiscaset Newspaper Staff Pro Football Challenge has begun. Each week, staff members Ben “The Incredible Bulk” Bulkeley, Kevin “The Hammer” Burnham, Nicole “The Lion” Lyons, Katrina “The Ninja” Clark, Mike “Big Scar” Scarborough, Mike “The Iron Horse” Marr and Gary “Mad Stork” Dow will “try” to pick the winners of each NFL game by Wednesday evening (each week there is a Thursday game). The winner (best winning percentage) at the end of the regular season will be treated to a prize (we haven’t come up with one yet). We will post each players record from the following week.

Week 2 standings

Ben 14-2

Mike M. 13-3

Nicole 11-5

Kevin 10-6

Mike S. 10-6

Gary 9-7

Katrina 7-9

Overall: Mike M. 23-9; Kevin 22-10; Ben 21-11; Nicole 20-12 Gary 18-14; Mike S. 18-14; Katrina 14-18

Week 2 Comment: Mike M. takes over the lead in the standings and Ben bounced back two-fold, doubling his number of winning picks. When asked why he was doing so bad in the rankings, Gary said, “I might have been OK at playing football, but picking winners is another level altogether. That takes a real commitment and I guess I better suck it up and start doing the hard work it requires.”

Cleveland still doesn't rock … and no one picked them to win this week.

Week 3 Prognosis: Interesting week ahead with several 1-1 teams. Which teams will “want it more” and which teams still “need to find their way?” Will the “home team” Pats show its weaknesses and lose? Time will tell. Nicole is going for the big upset in Denver. Kevin is the only Titans fan this week and Mike S. is out there alone with the Cardinals and Colts.

Week 3 picks

Kansas City at Philadelphia: Kansas City: Mike S., Ben, Mike M., Gary; Philadelphia: Katrina, Kevin, Nicole

Arizona at New Orleans: Arizona: Mike S., Ben; New Orleans: Katrina, Kevin, Nicole, Mike M., Gary

Cleveland at Minnesota: Cleveland; Minnesota: Katrina, Kevin, Mike S., Ben, Nicole, Mike M., Gary

Detroit at Washington: Detroit: Mike S., Ben, Mike M.; Washington: Katrina, Kevin, Nicole, Gary

Green Bay at Cincinnati: Green Bay: Katrina, Kevin, Mike S., Ben, Nicole, Mike M., Gary; Cincinnati:

Houston at Baltimore: Houston: Katrina, Mike S., Ben, Mike M., Gary; Baltimore: Kevin, Nicole

NY Giants at Carolina: NY Giants: Katrina, Kevin, Mike S., Mike M., Gary; Carolina: Ben, Nicole

San Diego at Tennessee: San Diego: Katrina, Mike S., Ben, Nicole, Mike M., Gary; Tennessee: Kevin

St. Louis at Dallas: St. Louis: Mike S., Kevin; Dallas: Katrina, Ben, Nicole, Mike M., Gary

Tampa Bay at New England: Tampa Bay; New England: Katrina, Kevin, Mike S., Ben, Nicole, Mike M., Gary

Atlanta at Miami: Atlanta: Kevin, Ben, Mike M., Gary; Miami: Katrina, Mike S., Nicole

Buffalo at NY Jets: Buffalo: Mike S., Ben, Nicole, Mike M., Gary; NY Jets: Katrina, Kevin

Indianapolis at San Francisco: Indianapolis: Mike S.; San Francisco: Katrina, Kevin, Ben, Nicole, Mike M., Gary

Jacksonville at Seattle: Jacksonville; Seattle: Katrina, Kevin, Mike S., Ben, Nicole, Mike M., Gary

Chicago at Pittsburgh: Chicago: Katrina, Mike S., Nicole, Mike M.; Pittsburgh: Kevin, Ben, Gary

Oakland at Denver: Oakland: Nicole; Denver: Katrina, Kevin, Mike S., Ben, Mike M., Gary