The first-ever online Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper Staff Pro Football Challenge continues 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 players record from the following week.

Week 10 standings: Ben 8-6; Katrina 8-6; Kevin 7-7; Mike M. 7-7; Gary 6-8; Mike S. 6-8; Nicole 4-10;

Overall: Ben 90-57; Kevin 87-60; Mike M. 85-62; Mike S. 84-63; Katrina 81-66; Nicole 79-68; Gary 76-71

Week 10 Comments: Ben extends his lead over Kevin by three games. Katrina overtakes Nicole in the standings with a good week. At least two Florida teams are happy these days as Tampa Bay and Jacksonville got their first wins of the season, while the Miami drama continues. Indianapolis didn't show up against St. Louis. And the Cowboys got spanked by the Saints.

Week 11 Prognosis: The four 6-3 teams, Panthers, Colts, Forty-Niners and Lions, aren't assured of wins this week. Three are playing on the road and Carolina will try to upset the Patriots at home. That's how crazy this season has been. Twelve teams have either five wins or four wins .... Hardly a week where there's a clear favorite. And Cincinnati, at 6-4, has lost two straight. Looks like another .500 week for the bulk of us Challengers.

Week 11 picks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.