Orlando’s Sports Leader – 740 The Team – Orlando, FL

By Andrew Sutton, NFL Staff Writer

(Sports Network) – The Vikings got some rest last Sunday during their Week 8
bye, but coach Dennis Green put his players through a rigorous practice
regimen that began with full-pad drills on Monday. Green is just one of many
people angered by Minnesota’s 3-4 start, and a victory this week is key for
the team’s playoff hopes. QB Daunte Culpepper will finally have the
opportunity to match up against fellow Class of 1999 first-round pick
Donovan McNabb, but Minny’s king-sized signal-caller is more focused on the
task at hand rather than personal rivalries.

“We’re very desperate because we want to stay in the hunt for the big
trophy,” said Culpepper. “That’s what everybody is doing, trying to stay in
the hunt. You’ve got to be desperate. If not, you might as well go home.
Might as well not even play.”

Scoring 19.7 points per game has not been nearly enough for the Vikings to
be a considered a serious playoff threat at this point of the season. With
top weapon WR Randy Moss still unable to break out (three catches for 49
yards against Tampa Bay in Week 7), Minnesota bears little resemblance to
the team of past years.

Culpepper has been the victim of a young and injured offensive line, taking
27 sacks — the sixth-highest amount in the NFL.

Culpepper has never played in a venue as imposing as Veterans Stadium. His
ability to adjust to the poor playing surface and the hostile crowd will be
important for the offense to build confidence. Regardless of the location,
the 6-foot-4, 260-pound trigger man is aware that the Eagles will try to
shut down the passing game.

“Teams are definitely going to try to stop our running game with their front
seven,” he said. “Hopefully we won’t let that happen. We’ll be able to get
them out of that cover-two, get one of those safeties down to try and help
against the run game, and that’s when we can open up our passing game.

“I think first off they have got two really good cornerbacks outside.
They’ve got very good safeties. Plus it doesn’t hurt to have a rush guy like
Hugh Douglas and their front four who causes a lot of problems. It rushes
the quarterback and makes him throw bad throws sometimes. It helps out their
defensive backs.”

Minnesota’s running game is a far cry from the days of Robert Smith.
Culpepper is the team’s leading rusher, as the team has given up on rookie
Michael Bennett in favor of second-year man Doug Chapman. Against the Bucs
two weeks ago, Chapman ran five times for eight yards. Culpepper is the
biggest scoring threat near the goal line, since he is tied for first in the
NFC with five rushing TDs.

WR Cris Carter, who played for the Eagles from 1987-89, has done well
against his former team. In two career contests against Philly, Carter has
11 catches for 209 yards and three touchdowns. He faces his biggest test of
the season this week though.

UP NEXT: The Vikings (3-4) host the New York Giants in a rematch of last
season’s NFC Championship game on Monday night in Week 10.

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