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Culpepper impressive again as Raiders sink Rams

Aug 25, 2007 - 5:31 AM By Neil Berman PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - In the absence of JaMarcus Russell, the unsigned No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft, Daunte Culpepper may have cemented his position as the Oakland Raiders' starting quarterback.

Culpepper had an impressive first-half performance in leading the Raiders to a 20-10 preseason victory over the St. Louis Rams on Friday. While he was only 4-of-8 for 48 yards and a TD through the air, Culpepper engineered two scoring drives, including a 19-yard TD pass to Ronald Curry early in the second quarter on a third-and-13.

Culpepper also kept drives alive with his legs, scrambling three times for 17 yards.

Josh McCown took over for Culpepper midway the second quarter and was equally impressive, going 6-for-9 for 138 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. McCown played through the third quarter before Andrew Walter took over for the final period.

His lone blemish was when he was sacked and fumbled late in the third quarter on his own 31. Rams linebacker Raonall Smith recovered the fumble.

LaMont Jordan played the whole first half for the Raiders and was a workhorse, gaining 41 yards on 18 carries, as well as turning a screen pass from McCown into a 49-yard play in the second quarter.

Jordan committed the only mishap in what was otherwise a stellar half for the Raiders, as he fumbled on the Rams' 1-yard line in the first quarter, which was recovered in the end zone by Will Witherspoon for a touchback.

Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski was 2-of-3 on field goals, including a 50-yarder in the first quarter to open the scoring.

Marc Bulger played the entire first half for the Rams, but was beleaguered in the absence of his favorite target Torry Holt. Bulger hit Isaac Bruce with a 40-yard pass on the game's first play from scrimmage, but struggled mightily the rest of the first half, ending up 8-for-21 for 109 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

The biggest offensive weapon for the Rams, running back Steven Jackson, participated in only the first play from scrimmage and was taken out of the game. Bruce had four receptions for 77 yards while playing most of the first half.

Gus Frerotte played the third quarter for the Rams and was impressive, going 10-for-18 for 108 yards with a 6-yard TD pass to former University of Virginia quarterback Marques Hagans.

Former Harvard QB Ryan Fitzpatrick took over for Frerotte and played the entire fourth quarter. The Raiders dominated the action in the first half, outscoring the Rams, 17-3, and outgaining the Rams, 209-147.