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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Daunte Culpepper proved he can throw, too.
Culpepper, who ran for three touchdowns last week in his first
career start, was 23-for-37 for 355 yards and his first career
touchdown pass in Minnesota's 13-7 victory over Miami on Sunday.
|  | | Kicker Gary Anderson kept the Vikings in the game until Daunte Culpepper's late touchdown. |
He threw a 15-yard scoring pass to Randy Moss with 1:56 left to
offset three interceptions.
"No quarterback is perfect," Vikings coach Dennis Green said.
"I don't know what quarterback you know that's going to make a
perfect decision every time."
Cris Carter caught nine passes for a career-high 168 yards, and
Moss had six catches for 87 yards. Culpepper also ran for 37 yards
on eight carries.
"I really didn't have to run because Chris and Randy were
getting open more," Culpepper said, comparing the game to last
week's 30-27 victory over Chicago.
"I knew there were going to be opportunities that Chicago did
not present. So I knew I just had to be patient. They were the No.
1-ranked defensive team last week and when opportunities came, we
had to take advantage of it."
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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This is a disappointing loss for Miami. The Dolphins were simply not able to generate enough offense.
They did get a touchdown late in the game, but anytime you can go to Minnesota and hold them to just 13 points -- you have to win those types of games.
It was another good game in the maturation of Daunte Culpepper. He threw for 355 yards and withstood the pressure from Miami's defense. He has certainly established himself as a quarterback to be reckoned with, and with the weapons he has in his offense this could be an exciting year for Minnesota.
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After Culpepper teamed with Moss to give the Vikings a 13-0
lead, Miami cut it to six on Jay Fiedler's 2-yard TD pass to
Thurman Thomas with 1:02 remaining. On the previous play, Fielder
connected with Tony Martin on a 44-yard pass.
Orlando Thomas recovered Miami's onside kick and the Vikings ran
out the clock.
Miami was limited to 209 net yards of offense, including just 49
yards rushing and was 3-for-13 on third-down conversions.
Lamar Smith, who rushed for 145 yards last week in Miami's 23-0
home victory over Seattle, gained just 27 yards on 11 carries
against the Vikings.
"Our defense dictated the game," Orlando Thomas said. "We put
a lot of pressure on them up front. They came in with a power
running game and the things we did up front forced them into the
types of situations they were in."
Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said his offense couldn't take
advantage of the opportunities the Vikings offered.
"If we don't have the ability to run the ball, which we didn't
today, we've got to make plays in the passing game," Wannstedt
said. "As the game unfolded, they were bringing eight or nine guys
up and blitzing us, giving us one-on-one coverage."
Orlando Thomas said the Minnesota defense felt a sense of
vindication against the Dolphins.
"We heard this week about how terrible we were," he said. "We
just wanted to come in and ... create some turnovers and not allow
them to win on third down. We were able to do that."
Fiedler, also making the second start of his career, completed
12 of 31 passes for 175 yards with one interception. He was sacked
three times for 15 yards.
"Jay's performance was about like our entire offense -- not good
enough," Wannstedt said.
Miami's defense didn't look anywhere near as strong as the unit
that shut out Seattle.
"We got out of our game plan late in the game and started
blitzing to try and make something happen," Dolphins linebacker
Zach Thomas said.
Mistakes kept both teams out of the end zone until the fourth
quarter and forced the Vikings to settle for Gary Anderson's two
field goals, a 28-yarder in the first quarter and a 49-yarder in
the fourth quarter.
Keith Thibodeaux intercepted Fiedler's pass on the third play of
the third quarter, but Minnesota's drive -- which was kept going by
a holding penalty on Sam Madison on third-and-22 -- ended with Brian
Walker's interception. Culpepper's pass bounced off tight end
Andrew Jordan into Walker's hands, but Miami was forced to punt
after gaining just 6 yards.
Penalties by Minnesota's offensive line also cost the Vikings
two good opportunities in the second quarter. Brad Badger was
called for holding in the second quarter, negating a 20-yard run by
Robert Smith, and Korey Stringer was flagged for holding on a long
run by Culpepper during Minnesota's final drive.
Culpepper's mistakes ended two Minnesota drives in the first
half. Brock Marion intercepted a pass intended for fullback Jim
Kleinsasser with 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Culpepper floated the ball between Kleinsasser and linebacker Zach
Thomas, and Marion cut between the two for the interception.
Then with just 32 seconds left in the half and the Vikings
facing first-and-15 at Miami's 23, Culpepper fumbled when Trace
Armstrong reached in and knocked the ball away. Jason Taylor
recovered for the Dolphins.
Game notes
Carter has 10,455 total yards in 11 seasons with the
Vikings to break Darrin Nelson's team record of 10,365. ...
Wannstedt is 3-10 against Green. The Miami coach was 3-9 while
coach of the Bears. ... Culpepper's 26-yard run in the first
quarter was the longest of his career. He runs of 24 and 21 yards
last week against Chicago. ... Martin caught six passes for 120
yards for Miami.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
Week 2 wrap-ups
Week 2 infirmary report
TJ's Take on Week 2
Week 2 stats leaders
Prime Time Players
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