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Culpepper shines in Raiders' loss to 49ers

Aug 19, 2007 - 5:26 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - Daunte Culpepper is making a case to win the Oakland Raiders' starting quarterback job.

Culpepper threw for two touchdowns and completed 6-of-8 passes for 75 yards but the Raiders fell to the San Francisco 49ers, 26-21, in preseason play Saturday night.

Thomas Clayton scored on a 1-yard run with 1:01 to play to give the 49ers the victory against their Bay Area rivals.

Culpepper entered midway through the second quarter and capped a nine-play, 70-yard scoring drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to running back Zack Crockett. Culpepper was 3-for-3 on the drive for 22 yards. He added a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Madsen in the third quarter.

After being released by the Miami Dolphins, Culpepper was signed ny the Raiders during training camp. He had spent seven seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and just one injury-riddled season with Miami.

JaMarcus Russell, Oakland's first round pick out of Louisiana State, still has not signed with the team.

Raiders starting quarterback Andrew Walter, who played into the second quarter before giving way to Culpepper, completed 9-of-16 passes for 78 yards

49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith played the entire first half and completed 8-of-12 passes for 106 yards.

Mark Roman set up the 49ers' first touchdown in the first quarter when he picked off Walter's pass and returned it to Oakland's 31-yard line. Two plays later, Smith connected with reserve tight end Delanie Walker for a 19-yard touchdown.

Dominic Rhodes, who will miss the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL's drug policy, rushed for just five yards on five carries. Rhodes was signed as a free agent with by the Raiders in the offseason after spending the last six seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

LaMont Jordan, who will likely get most of the carries in Rhodes' absence, rushed for 67 yards on eight carries and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run.

Niners kicker Joe Nedney connected on field goals of 43 and 50 yards.