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 players record from the following week.

Week 11 standings: Gary 12-3; Nicole 11-4; Mike S. 10-5; Katrina 9-6; Mike M. 9-6; Kevin 7-8; Ben 6-9

Overall: Ben 96-66; Kevin 94-68; Mike M. 94-68; Mike S. 94-68; Katrina 90-72; Nicole 90-72; Gary 88-74

Week 11 Comments: Wow, the Challenge standings have tightened up considerably, with Ben and Kevin having sub-par weeks while Gary, Nicole and Katrina “upped their game.” Gary is psyched at being only eight games from the lead.

Week 12 Prognosis: The marquee game of the week includes our beloved 7-3 Patriots hosting the 9-1 Broncos. Dud of the week: Jaguars at Texans. Anybody's guess on the winners of both games … or most games here. Nicole is going for the lead; she's all alone with her picks of the Florida teams, Dolphins, Jaguars and Bucs.

Week 12 picks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.