EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Daunte Culpepper is the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback for the foreseeable future, and on Monday they decided he's the guy for the present, too.

	Culpepper

Pulled for backup Todd Bouman late in the third quarter of the Vikings' loss to the New York Giants on Sunday, Culpepper will return as the starter this weekend against Green Bay.

Coach Mike Tice made the decision, but it didn't come without a lot of input from his staff.

"I totally agree with the position we're taking,'' said offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. "He's our quarterback. He's our future. He's got to play better, but it's not all on him. We weren't moving the ball, so it falls on him. I think he understands that.''

Tice didn't make the announcement at his afternoon news conference, which he later said was because he hadn't yet had a chance to inform Bouman. But Culpepper spilled the beans anyway a few minutes after in the locker room.

"It's the same as always,'' Culpepper said. "I'm starting, that's how I'm going to approach it.''

Culpepper's NFL-high 14 interceptions and five lost fumbles are big reasons why the Vikings (2-7) are tied for last place in the NFC North. He wasn't picked off at all against the Giants, but fans at the Metrodome began to boo him and chant for Bouman, a native of Ruthton, Minn., who played at St. Cloud State.

Culpepper completed just 9 of 20 passes for 91 yards before Tice sent Bouman in with Minnesota trailing 19-6.

Bouman turned the ball over with a fumble on his first possession, but he led the Vikings to long touchdown drives on their next two possessions to take a 20-19 lead with 2:43 left. The Giants responded with a long scoring drive of their own and won 27-20.

Culpepper had never been benched before.

"It's extremely difficult, but I'm a competitor,'' he said. "I definitely have got to use it as motivation. I've got to come out and play better.''

Linehan, taking some of the blame himself for plays that have been too conservative, predicted Culpepper would respond well against the Packers.

"I think he'll let it hang loose,'' Linehan said. "He knows he's got to play better.''

If Culpepper struggles again Sunday, Bouman would almost certainly come in.

"Daunte's our future, but this is a now business,'' Linehan said. "We don't have years and years of time. But looking at the future, we believe, for us to get where we want to go, No. 11's our quarterback.''

Bouman -- who sneaked out of Winter Park without talking to reporters -- zinged two passes downfield to Randy Moss for 80 yards on his first touchdown drive, a big-play spark that has been missing for most of the season. But the Vikings still feel like Culpepper's is the better all-around player.

"Todd was in a position where he had nothing to lose and everything to gain,'' Linehan said. "I just think Daunte brings that much more to the table.''

Culpepper should be able to derive some confidence from the way running back Michael Bennett is playing, thanks to superb run-blocking at every position on the offense.

"We have to convert that confidence we have in blocking the running game over to pass protection,'' Tice said. "We have to continue to have faith in the plays that are called, so that we can execute those and complete passes.''

Players, both after Sunday's game and Monday at Winter Park, didn't want to publicly weigh in on the quarterback situation.

"That's up to the coach,'' running back Michael Bennett said. "It doesn't affect what I do.''

Added center Matt Birk: "It really doesn't matter. Everybody's just got to worry about themselves.''