Raiders sharp in win over Rams

Daunte Culpepper handled his first snap cleanly for a change and did plenty else right too. Released by the Miami Dolphins a month ago, he is doing his best to win the starting job with the Oakland Raiders.

Culpepper threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Curry and looked sharp in his first exhibition start, leading the Raiders to a 20-10 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Friday night at Oakland.

The Raiders started their third quarterback in as many exhibition games, with Culpepper following Josh McCown and Andrew Walter. Other than Culpepper’s fumbling problem his first two games -- he had four, including the first snap from center each game -- he has been productive and healthy with his new team.

He handled the initial center exchange from Jake Grove this time and threw a pass over the middle to tight end Zach Miller, drawing a 28-yard pass interference penalty against Brandon Chillar. Culpepper also scrambled for 10 yards on third and four on the drive, setting up a 50-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski.

Culpepper drove the Raiders to the one on the next drive before running back LaMont Jordan lost a fumble in the end zone. Culpepper then led the Raiders to a touchdown on his final drive, coolly beating the blitz on his scoring pass to Curry.

Playing only the first half, Vince Young completed 13 of 19 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for a touchdown in the Tennessee Titans’ 28-17 road victory over the Buffalo Bills.

It was a much-needed performance from Young and a starting offense that had failed to produce a score in eight possessions in a 27-24 win in sloppy and wet conditions at New England last week.

The Bills’ offense also finally started showing signs of its big-play potential. J.P. Losman shook off an early interception and connected with wide receiver Lee Evans for a 64-yard touchdown pass play late in the second quarter.

Losman, who also completed a 51-yard pass to Peerless Price that set up a field goal, was nine of 20 for 180 yards, nearly doubling the 98 yards he had in his first two exhibition games combined.

The Bills announced that Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel signed a seven-year contract extension that is potentially worth about $50.5 million.

Two days after Tom Brady skipped practice to fly to Los Angeles where his ex-girlfriend, actress Bridget Moynahan, gave birth to their son, Brady returned to the New England Patriots and was nearly flawless in a 24-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers at Charlotte, N.C.

Brady, given plenty of time to throw, completed 17 of 21 passes for 167 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, leading the Patriots on three scoring drives in their best offensive showing of the exhibition season.

He threw touchdown passes of six yards to Marcellus Rivers and eight yards to Heath Evans as New England built a 17-7 lead.

Panthers linebacker Dan Morgan’s successful return from multiple concussions overshadowed another dismal performance by Carolina’s offense and a shaky secondary.

Morgan, who had not played since sustaining at least the fifth concussion of his career in last year’s regular-season opener, was credited with three tackles, including a hard hit of Sammy Morris late in the first quarter after Brady’s first completion.

The Green Bay Packers are hopeful that wide receiver Donald Driver’s foot injury is not too serious. Driver was hurt during Thursday night’s 21-13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after making a 12-yard reception late in the second quarter. Jaguars safety Sammy Knight rolled up on his right leg. General Manager Ted Thompson remained quiet on the specifics of his top receiver’s condition.

The Cincinnati Bengals waived injured first-year tight ends Bobby Blizzard and Sean Mulcahy. Blizzard, from North Carolina, has been out because of a back injury, and Mulcahy, from Connecticut, has a neck injury. The Bengals said if they are not claimed, they will go on the injured reserve list.