11 on 1: Culpepper Tries to Lead Raiders Against Vikings

Sunday holds expectations—wait, let me rephrase that—HUGE expectations for Raider fans. 

Even though this game is on the road, where the Raiders have seemed to be almost non-existent this season, Oakland should have a good chance to win.

Or do they?

With the Vikings biggest star Adrian Peterson sidelined after he strained his LCL last week, all reports have said he will not be able to play Sunday.

Does that give the Raiders any edge? 

Probably not.

The Raiders run defense is decent, but not where it was at the beginning of the year.

The Vikings will be starting Chester Taylor, who—besides giving up the starting job to a rookie—has a chance to re-emerge since his injury.  Taylor has only rushed for 304 yards this season, while scoring just one TD.  He has something to prove; however, I do not think he will come close to anything Peterson has done recently.  He may be lucky to put up 70-90 yards.

Which means a large part of the Vikings' game plan will be working through the air. The young Tavaris Jackson has struggled this season so far, completing 46 percent of his passes for 600 yards and 2 TD's.  And don't forget about his 5 interceptions that mostly came in crucial points of the five games he has played in. To his advantage, the Raiders are going to be playing without stand-out corners Nnamdi Asomugha, and Fabian Washington, for the second straight week both have been listed as Questionable for Sunday's game.

Another player with something to prove is the Raiders starting quarterback, Daunte Culpepper.  We saw what he did to his other former team, the Miami Dolphins, where he was part of all five touchdowns the Raiders scored.  Although he was just 5 for 12, for 75 yards, two were for touchdowns.  Plus he ran the ball 7 times for 28 yards and three rushing TD's, letting Miami know he was still able to play.

Hopefully this week, we see these same signs of progress, and watch him shine against the team who drafted him in 1999 and where he spent his first seven years.  Let's see if there is still bitterness between Pep and Brad Childress, and how Pep decides to handle his sour taste for the man.

However it goes down, I think Culpepper will have a decent day, hopefully helping the weak offense put at least 17 points on the board.  He knows that the rookie awaits his turn, pacing the sidelines Sunday as the number two QB on the depth chart.  We may see JaMarcus Russell share time with Pep this week depending on the score.

I just wonder how Daunte will be greeted by the fans Sunday?  A standing ovation? Or a strong chorus of "boos."

My prediction: 20-13, Raiders over the Vikings in the later minutes of the game.