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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- If a key goal in preseason games is to simply
survive without serious injuries, the Arizona Cardinals might have
suffered one of the worst defeats in their history Friday night
against the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota beat Arizona 35-17 behind Daunte Culpepper's 311 yards
passing and two touchdowns, and seven Cardinals players left with
injuries, including receiver Rob Moore.
Moore tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee,
cornerback Coby Rhinehart tore two ligaments in his right leg and
cornerback J.J. McCleskey broke his right ankle. Each are likely
lost for the season and Moore and Rhinehart will have
MRIs on Monday.
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Culpepper peppers Cards
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Duante Culpepper, anointed the starter by coach Dennis Green in the spring after he was the No. 3 quarterback last season, had his best game of the preseason, going 13-for-23 through the air for his 311 yards passing.
"Daunte looked poised again," said Minnesota running back Robert Smith said. "I think any questions about Daunte Culpepper have been answered."
"We wanted to show the whole world that the Minnesota Vikings are going to work with Daunte," said Randy Moss, who had five catches for 164 yards.
-- Associated Press
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"I came out of my break and just 'Pow,"' Moore said. "I felt
something pop. I've never felt anything like that. I knew something
was wrong right away."
Linebacker Johnny Rutledge sprained his knee, cornerback Tom
Knight injured his left hand, linebacker Ronald McKinnon bruised
his right thigh and linebacker Ray Thompson sprained his left knee
and didn't return. Those injuries were not thought to be serious.
Cardinals coach Vince Tobin blamed the Metrodome turf for the
injuries suffered by Moore and Rhinehart.
"(Morale) is certainly going
to be something that has to be
addressed," Tobin said. "Not only morale in the locker room, but
performance on the field. Neither one was where it needs to be."
The Vikings (1-2) built a 28-0 lead in the second quarter, on a
pair of rushing touchdowns by Robert Smith and long scoring passes
from Culpepper to Randy Moss and Cris Carter.
Arizona (1-2) didn't score until 1:55 was left in the first
half.
Starters for both teams played until just a few minutes were
left in the third quarter.
Moss had five catches for 164 yards and Carter caught two passes
for 81 yards. Smith rushed eight times for 53 yards before giving
way to Moe Williams in the second quarter.
|  | | Daunte Culpepper led the Vikings brilliantly. |
Minnesota coach Dennis Green, who has had just one losing preseason in his nine
seasons, said Carter and Moss' blazing speed was well utilized
against Arizona's defensive backs.
"They play a lot of man coverage," Green said. "We have the
type of receivers that can run the man coverage."
The Cardinals' first-string offense struggled with quarterback
Jake Plummer, who was playing behind a patchwork offensive line.
Center Mike Gruttadauria and right guard Lester Holmes were
scratched with knee injuries and left guard Matt Joyce looked rusty
as he made his first appearance of the preseason after coming back
from rib and chest injuries.
Plummer was sacked twice and knocked down several times in the
first quarter and Arizona went nearly 15 minutes without a first
down before its final drive of the half, which ended with a 49-yard
field goal by Cary Blanchard.
Rookie Thomas Jones, battling Michael Pittman for the starting
job at running back, scored on a 4-yard run with 3:46 left in the
third quarter for the Cardinals and backup quarterback Dave Brown
threw a 12-yard strike to Mac Cody in the fourth.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Duante Culpepper talks with ESPN's Sean Salisbury after his Friday night performance.
wav: 311 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Jake Plummer looks forward to playing on natural grass.
wav: 230 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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