The first-ever online Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper Staff Pro Football Challenge continues deeper into the second half of the NFL season. 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 “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 player's record from the following week.

Week 13 standings: Mike S. 12-4; Kevin 12-4; Katrina 12-4; Ben 11-5; Nicole 10-6; Gary 10-6; Mike M. 10-6

Overall: Ben 128-79-1; Mike S. 124-83-1; Kevin 121-86-1; Nicole 120-87-1; Katrina 120-87-1; Mike M. 119-88-1; Gary 113-94-1

Week 14 Comments: Mike S. is creeping toward the lead, although Ben had another solid week — as did all of the Challengers. Three weeks left to catch Ben! Great week of interesting games ... comebacks (Yeah, Patriots), snowstorms, another no-show for Washington, and Chicago, Baltimore and Miami are hanging on to playoff hopes. Seattle was brought down a notch after losing to San Fran and Dallas maintains its late season failure reputation.

Week 15 Prognosis: Trying to find a solid pick … perhaps Philadelphia over Minnesota or Seattle over NY Giants? All the other games could go either way in this season of parity. Indianapolis, Kansas City and New Orleans should win … but who knows. Gary is going for upsets (NY Giants and Oakland), trying to catch the leaders, we suppose.

Week 15 picks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The players

Ben “The Incredible Bulk” Bulkeley used to play football. He used to weigh over 200 pounds, but he wanted to play wide receiver, so he slimmed down drinking Slim Fast and cutting down on his Devil Dog consumption.

Kevin “The Hammer” Burnham played football locally and was on the 1973 Class D championship team, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this season. He played linebacker and running back and suffered a few concussions during his playing days ... which may explain a lot.

Nicole “The Lion” Lyons watches football ... sometimes.

Katrina “The Ninja” Clark likes to make her picks by blindfolding herself and throwing darts at the chart in her backyard. Once in a while she even hits it. More often she hits the squirrels.

Mike “Big Scar” Scarborough last played organized football in junior high. He played both ways as a lineman, offensive and defensive tackle. Big Scar was a "speed lineman," who loved nothing better than running down a QB in the backfield.

Gary “Mad Stork” Dow played defensive end for the 1972 Class A state runner-up Edward Little "Red Eddies" of Auburn. He alleges he was selected "All-State" but since this was before the creation of the Internet, there is no way to confirm it. He went to play for the University of Maine from 1973-1976 as a defensive end and outside linebacker. He states he won Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC) Player of the Week honors against Bucknell University in the fall of 1975, but again, there is no way to confirm this claim either.

Mike “The Iron Horse” Marr made a name for himself in junior high and intramural sports with his aggressive and undisciplined playing technique, often going for the biggest guy on the field and stiff arming. When in a clutch position on the field, he drew attention by using modern dance techniques, something nobody wanted to see. To this day, he still can't watch “Flashdance” without tapping his feet.