The first-ever online Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper Staff Pro Football Challenge of the NFL season will continue through the Super Bowl. 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 season will be treated to a prize (we've decided on a gift from each player). We will post each player's record from the following week.

Week 18 standings: Ben 0-4, Nicole 3-1, Kevin 2-2, Katrina 2-2, Mike M. 3-1, Gary 2-2, Mike S. 2-2

Overall: Ben 160-99-1; Mike S. 156-103-1; Nicole 155-104-1; Kevin 154-105-1; Katrina 153-107-1; Mike M. 149-110-1; Gary 147-112-1

Week 18 Comments: Mike S. jumped a couple of games closer to Ben and Nicole jumped past Kevin, with Katrina not far behind. It took a near record-breaking comeback by the Colts to give four of us another win.

Week 19 Prognosis: We're coming down to the wire, with this week, next week and the Super Bowl to pick. New England, with much of its linebacker corps depleted, will find it tough to defeat the upstart Colts at home. Can Philip Rivers (or his running backs) dismantle the Broncos defense? New Orleans will have to keep the ball a lot in Seattle in order to win. And it will be a toss-up between Carolina and San Francisco.

Week 19 picks

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

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

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

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

 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.