Vikings’ Victory Is Full of Emotion

Daunte Culpepper threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss and ran 11 yards for another score Saturday night as the Minnesota Vikings opened the exhibition season with a 28-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints at San Antonio.

Culpepper’s play provided an emotional lift to the Vikings, who played their first game since the death of offensive tackle Korey Stringer.

“He’s always going to be on my mind,” Culpepper said. “It’s tough going out to play, but we always keep him in our thoughts. The passion for the game is still there. We showed a glimpse of that tonight. We showed a lot of great things but there’s a long way to go.”

Viking players wore football-shaped patches on the left side of their jerseys bearing Stringer’s No. 77 and joined the 46,752 fans in the Alamodome in a moment of silence before the kickoff.

Olandis Gary gained 35 yards in 10 carries, Mike Anderson had 33 yards in seven tries and quarterbacks Brian Griese and Gus Frerotte were sharp as the Denver Broncos defeated the Cowboys, 20-6, at Dallas. Dallas has lost eight consecutive exhibition games and 16 of 17. . . . Steve McNair threw a touchdown pass as the Tennessee Titans held off the Chicago Bears, 27-24, at Nashville, Tenn. Chicago tight end Kaseem Sinceno dislocated a left ankle in the second quarter and is lost for the season. . . Mark Rypien, who hadn’t played in an NFL game since 1997, completed 12 of 20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Colts to a 28-21 victory over Seattle at Indianapolis. Trent Dilfer, who led the Ravens to the Super Bowl title last season and signed with the Seahawks on Aug. 3, was six of eight for 58 yards and one touchdown, but he was sacked twice and pressured other times.

Tim Couch threw a touchdown pass to Jamel White and rookie running back James Jackson ran for 66 yards to lead the Cleveland Browns past the Green Bay Packers, 10-3, at Cleveland. . . . Second-year quarterback Doug Johnson was eight for 16 for 98 and a touchdown to highlight Atlanta’s 20-10 exhibition victory over the New York Jets at East Rutherford, N.Y. Michael Vick, the No. 1 pick in the draft, threw for 24 yards and ran for 24 more. . . . In other games, the Oakland Raiders beat the Arizona Cardinals, 10-7, in Tempe, Ariz., and the San Diego Chargers beat the San Francisco 49ers, 25-24, at San Diego.