The first-ever online Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper Staff Pro Football Challenge of the NFL season enters its final two weeks of competition. 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're close to deciding that!). We will post each player's record from the following week.

Week 15 standings: Kevin 10-6; Mike S. 9-7; Ben 9-7; Gary 9-7; Katrina 8-8; Nicole 8-8; Mike M. 8-8

Overall: Ben 137-86-1; Mike S. 133-90-1; Kevin 131-92-1; Nicole 128-95-1; Katrina 128-95-1; Mike M. 127-96-1; Gary 120-101-1

Week 15 Comments: My oh my ... another crazy week. Minnesota, St. Louis, Green Bay, Miami, Pittsburgh and San Diego all pulled upsets. Kevin gained a game on Ben but doesn't have much hope for catching him in the end — unless Ben drinks too much 'nog over the Christmas holiday and lets Gary make his picks (ouch!).

Week 16 Prognosis: A lock — Denver over Houston. Toss-up — Probably all of the rest! We don't see Oakland beating San Diego, however, and Dallas better move to Oklahoma City if they let Washington beat them. Most interesting — Arizona at Seattle. Can the Cardinals win a big one? Want to snooze? Tennessee at Jacksonville. Nicole is breaking the “lock” — Texans over the Broncos.

Week 16 picks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atlanta at San Francisco: Atlanta: San Francisco: Mike S., Katrina, Kevin, Mike M., Gary, Nicole, 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.