Daunte Culpepper is on fire!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 10/21/2003

For the third time in five games, Vikings star quarterback Daunte Culpepper threw five touchdown passes Sunday night, setting an NFL record for a career-high 425 yards in leading the Vikings to a 38-31 win over the New Orleans Saints.

With the victory, the Vikings improved to 4-1, the third-best record in the league, and took over sole possession of first place in the NFC North.

The Vikings have the top-rated offense in the NFL; in Sunday’s win, the Vikings had the second highest offensive total in team history — 605 yards. Culpepper has been nothing short of sensational, with 11 straight games in which he’s had a completion percentage of 60 percent or better. He’s thrown more touchdown passes (18) in five games than any quarterback in the history of the NFL.

Culpepper has completed an unbelievable 72.2 percent of his passes for 1,766 yards, 18 touchdowns passes, and only three interceptions. He has also run for 122 yards. His quarterback rating is an NFL-best 127.0. Right now, he is a front-runner for NFL MVP, along with Tom Brady of New England and Donovan McNabb of Philadelphia.

Not bad for a guy whose head coach two years ago said he needed to become a better student of the game, and who some fans and media have accused of having hands that are too small. It’s the type of criticism that goes with playing the position of quarterback: When they win, they get much of the credit, and when they don’t, they are targeted unfairly.

“We’re just having fun out there,” said Culpepper. “The main thing is to get the victory, and we’re trying to do whatever it takes, and we’re trying to use all the weapons that we have to do that.”

Culpepper is only the third Vikings quarterback in history to throw 100 or more career touchdown passes; the others are Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer. The Vikings’ record for touchdown passes in one game is seven, set by Joe Kapp in 1969.

Culpepper has thrown at least one touchdown pass to Randy Moss in a team-record 10 straight games. “Randy’s numbers, they speaks for themselves,” Culpepper said. “He’s the type of player that’s going to set records like that. That’s what he lives and dreams of doing; he lives to make the big play. I love playing with him, and I’m glad that I’ve gotten to play with a player like him.”

On third down alone, Culpepper has completed 32 of 40 passes for 516 yards and nine touchdowns with only one interception. His third-down QB rating is 147.9. Culpepper has led the Vikings offense to an NFL-record of 300 yards minimum in total offense in 34 straight games.

Culpepper is much more than a great player — he’s a great person, and he has a huge heart.

“It’s just a blessing to be able to live like I’m living and have this great game that we have and love as my job. I just thank God for giving me the ability to do what I can do. And to enjoy it, and I’m just enjoying it.”

Viking fans are, too.

Fitz Notes & Quotes

Randy Moss has a sprained right hamstring. It’s uncertain how serious it is and whether or not he will be able to play Sunday at the Dome against Tennessee. He’s been listed as questionable.

On Tuesday, Moss hosted a surprise reading and pizza party at St. Joseph’s School for Children and visited Bancroft Elementary School.

Hot pepper! Daunte Culpepper was selected by NFL.COM voters as the Fed EX Air Player of the week for his 396-yard, five-touchdown performance last week in the Vikings’ 34-28 overtime win at Houston.