OAKLAND, Calif. -- Daunte Culpepper cleanly handled his first snap for a change and did plenty else right, too. Cast off by Miami a month ago, Culpepper is doing his best to win the starting job in Oakland.
"I feel like I have a lot to offer a club," Culpepper said. "I feel like I'm a starter, but at the same time I have to do what's best for the team."
The Raiders (2-1) started their third quarterback in as many exhibition games, with Culpepper following Josh McCown and Andrew Walter. Other than Culpepper's fumbling problem his first two games - he had four, including the first snap from center each game - he has been productive and healthy with his new team.
With one preseason game left, coach Lane Kiffin said he'd have to look at the tape before deciding if he's any closer to picking his starter for the season opener.
"Ideally, it would have been a month ago," Kiffin said. "We'll go back and we might have an answer for you tomorrow or we might not and go into this next game without an answer."
The Rams (1-2) have no questions at quarterback, where Marc Bulger is entrenched as starter, but their first-team offense once again struggled.
At least the Rams managed to score this week with their first-stringers, getting a 26-yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins in the second quarter for their only points in 11 drives this preseason with the starting unit. Bulger finished 8-for-21 for 109 yards.
"We didn't move the ball the way we should have," Bulger said. "I'm disappointed we didn't score more."
St. Louis does have an excuse as two of the team's biggest playmakers in running back Steven Jackson and receiver Torry Holt basically got the night off. Jackson played only one play for the second straight week -- a 40-yard pass to Isaac Bruce - and Holt sat the entire game.
Jackson wasn't used much in the 2006 preseason, either, before leading the NFL with 2,334 yards from scrimmage.
Rookie Brian Leonard got the bulk of the time at running back in the first half and had the highlight of the game for the Rams. Leonard hurdled Raiders cornerback Fabian Washington on a 15-yard run in the first quarter, drawing "oohs" and "ahhs" from the crowd. Leonard finished with 20 yards on six carries.
"My question isn't Steven Jackson," coach Scott Linehan said. "My question is can Brian Leonard be the back that steps in? I wanted to see him play with the ones in the first half and the twos in the second."
Culpepper handled the initial center exchange from Jake Grove and threw a pass over the middle to tight end Zach Miller, drawing a 28-yard pass interference penalty against Brandon Chillar. Culpepper also scrambled for 10 yards on 3rd-and-4 on the drive, setting up a 50-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski.
Culpepper drove the Raiders to the 1 on the next drive before running back LaMont Jordan lost a fumble in the end zone. Culpepper then led Oakland to a touchdown on his final drive, coolly beating the blitz on his TD pass to Curry.
On third-and-13, Culpepper threw a quick pass over the middle to Curry before getting hit. Curry eluded Tye Hill and ran in for the score. Culpepper has thrown three TD passes without an interception this preseason, also showing good mobility on his surgically repaired right knee that cut his previous two seasons short.
"He looked pretty comfortable in there tonight," tackle Barry Sims said. "He ran the offense really well, made a good run, and he had a touch on all of his throws."
McCown led a touchdown drive late in the first half when a 49-yard screen pass to Jordan set up Jordan's 1-yard score. McCown also led the Raiders to a field goal in the third quarter, finishing 6-for-9 for 138 yards. He later lost a fumble on a sack by Eric Moore.
Kiffin was not happy with the play of the offensive line as Jordan gained only 41 yards on 18 carries and Oakland allowed four sacks. Janikowski also missed a 33-yard field goal.
"On offense, we weren't very good today, that's no secret," Kiffin said. "We did not protect the quarterback well, four sacks, two turnovers. No excuses. We have to finish our drives. We left a lot of points out there."
Gus Frerotte threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Marques Hagans in the fourth quarter for St. Louis' touchdown.
Notes: Kiffin went for it six times on fourth down, converting four of the opportunities. ... Hill committed two pass interference penalties and was called for illegal hands to the face on another pass. "I guess you could say there were picking on me," Hill said. ... The Rams were called for five pass interference penalties in all. ... Chris Carr had an 80-yard kickoff return for Oakland in the fourth quarter.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
