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Scramblin' man Culpepper's three rushing TDs lead Vikings past Bears
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- These weren't the kind of happy feet the Chicago Bears expected from Daunte Culpepper. The final member of last year's heralded quarterback class to take over an offense, Culpepper ran for three touchdowns to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 comeback victory against the Bears on Sunday. Culpepper, who took just 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, one of five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 1999 draft. He was the Vikings' leading rusher until Robert Smith broke a long run late in the game. "They made up their minds that they were going to stop Randy and Cris," Culpepper said. "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 at 260, he did a great job." At 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds -- he shed 11 in 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." Daniels said the Bears couldn't have done much different. "You can't take anything away from Culpepper," Daniels said. "He had happy feet, but he did a good job with those happy feet." Culpepper finished with the third-most yards rushing for a quarterback in the team's 40-year history. Fran Tarkenton had 99 yards against the Rams in 1961 and Wade Wilson had 75 yards against Washington in 1987. Culpepper, who threw for 190 yards on 13-of-23 passing with no touchdowns and one interception, had a 1-yard touchdown dive in the third quarter. He finally found Moss for 66 yards to the Chicago 7 early in the fourth quarter, and on the next snap, Culpepper scored on a draw, giving Minnesota a 23-20 lead. Culpepper scored on a 4-yard keeper with 4:35 left to make it 30-20. The touchdown followed a 59-yard burst by Smith, who gained 109 yards on 14 carries. Cade McNown, who started six times as a rookie last year, ran for his first career touchdown, a zigzagging 8-yarder with 1:17 left that pulled the Bears to 30-27. But Moss recovered the onside kick, and Culpepper ran out the clock. McNown ran 10 times for 87 yards and was 27-of-41 for 290 yards and two touchdowns. "These young quarterbacks can beat you with their arms and their legs, and they showed that today," Bears coach Dick Jauron said. Culpepper had some impressive scrambles -- 25 and 21 yards on his first series -- but the Vikings settled for field goals of 35, 38 and 45 yards by Gary Anderson in the first half. The Bears got first-half field goals of 29 and 49 yards from rookie Paul Edinger and an 18-yard touchdown pass from McNown to John Allred in the first quarter. McNown's 48-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Robinson gave Chicago a 20-9 lead five minutes into the third quarter, but the Vikings countered with Culpepper's 1-yard dive. Moss didn't catch a pass until just before halftime, and Carter's first reception came in the third quarter. Moss and Carter were the fourth-best receiving tandem in NFL history last season after their sideline squawking led to Cunningham getting benched in favor of George. Neither was complaining Sunday about not getting many catches -- Moss had four and Carter just two. "I don't really care about catching a few balls less than last year," Moss said. "All I care about is coming out with a victory." Notes: Cris Dishman, who joined the Vikings on Wednesday, started at left cornerback. ... Minnesota's Chris Liwienski made his first start at left guard in place of Corbin Lacina (knee) but was replaced by Brad Badger after spraining his right knee. Liwienski is expected to miss up to three weeks. ... Culpepper's 13 rushing attempts are a team record. ... Moss's 66-yard catch was the second longest of his career. ... McNown said Vikings defensive end Talance Sawyer should be "severely" fined for a helmet-to-chin late hit in the fourth quarter.
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