Culpepper Simply Goes in Feet First

These weren’t the kind of happy feet the Chicago Bears expected from Minnesota Viking quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

Culpepper--making his first NFL start--ran for three touchdowns to lead the Vikings to a 30-27 comeback victory over the Bears on Sunday.

Culpepper, who took only six snaps last season as a backup to Randall Cunningham and Jeff George, had 13 carries for 73 yards, and that included taking a knee on the Vikings’ last three snaps.

Double coverage on Randy Moss and Cris Carter opened up running lanes for Culpepper. He was the Vikings’ leading rusher until Robert Smith broke a long run late in the game.

Moss and Carter, the fourth-best receiving tandem in NFL history last season, were held to a combined six catches.

“They made up their minds that they were going to stop Randy and Cris,” said Culpepper. “I always like a challenge like that because I feel I’m a guy that can make plays.”

Defensive end Phillip Daniels said the Bears got good pressure on Culpepper but just couldn’t catch him.

“To be that big and to move like he did, to get out of there and run down the field, he did a great job,” Daniels said. “He had happy feet, but he did a good job with those happy feet.”

At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds--he shed 11 in training camp--Culpepper is thought to be the biggest quarterback in league history.

“You don’t see many guys that big running with a football unless they’ve picked up a fumble,” Smith said. “He’s something completely different. He’s creating a mold that hasn’t been set yet.”

Culpepper, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 190 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, had a one-yard touchdown dive in the third quarter. He finally found Moss for 66-yard play to the Chicago seven early in the fourth quarter, and on the next snap, scored on a draw to give Minnesota a 23-20 lead.

Culpepper then scored on a four-yard keeper with 4:35 left to make it 30-20. The touchdown followed a 59-yard burst by Smith, who had 109 yards in 14 carries.

Chicago quarterback Cade McNown, who started six times as a rookie last season, ran for his first touchdown on a zigzagging eight-yard play with 1:17 left to pull the Bears within 30-27.

But Moss recovered the onside kick, and Culpepper ran out the clock.

McNown ran 10 times for 87 yards and completed 27 of 41 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns.

“These young quarterbacks can beat you with their arms and their legs, and they showed that today,” Bear Coach Dick Jauron said.