FLASH RECAP:
Daunte Culpepper (top) gets redemption against his former team and Oakland ends a 12-game road losing streak with an uplifting victory over reeling Miami.
Culpepper, released by Miami on June 17, rushes for three touchdowns and throws for two others to lead the Raiders (2-2) past the Dolphins (0-4) before an announced crowd of 70,621 at Dolphin Stadium on Sept. 30, 2007.
Justin Fargas rushes for 179 of Oakland's 299 rushing yards to help the Raiders end a six-game losing streak against the Dolphins. Jerry Porter makes two TD receptions for the Raiders, who equal their victory total of the 2006 season.
After scoring on a 5-yard run late in the third quarter, Culpepper taps his surgically repaired right knee and signals "OK" to the crowd. In the 2006 season, Culpepper was benched after a 1-3 record as Miami's starting quarterback.
"The only thing I felt bad about is I didn't have a chance to show the fans here me healthy as a Dolphin," Culpepper tells reporters after Oakland's first victory in Miami since 1990. "But now I had a chance to show them today, and I'm glad I was able to do that."
Said Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor: "Good for him. Everybody doubted him. They said he was too old and too hurt, but they say that about a lot of guys."
Oakland wins a road game for the first time since a 16-13 victory over the Washington Redskins on Nov. 20, 2005, against the Washington Redskins.
The Dolphins start a season with four losses for the second time in four seasons and only the third time in franchise history (1966, 2004 & 2007).
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Daunte Culpepper — Rushes for three TDs and passes for two others, both to Jerry Porter. The former Dolphin and Viking is 5-of-12 passing for 75 yards, rushes seven times for 28 yards and finishes with a quarterback rating of 102.4.
RB Justin Fargas — Rushes for a career-high 179 yards on 22 carries and a whopping 8.1 yards per rush.
WR Jerry Porter — Has TD catches of 7 and 27 yards. Porter reaches the end zone for the first time since Week 14 of the 2005 season.
LB Thomas Howard — His 28-yard interception return to the Dolphins' 11 sets up the Raiders' first touchdown.
RB Ronnie Brown — Rushes for 134 yards and a TD and catches six passes for 73 yards.
TE Justin Pellee — Scores on a 3-yard catch and sets up the Dolphins' first TD with a 35-yard catch and run.
DE Matt Roth — Contributes six tackles and a sack.
KEY STAT:
The Raiders rush for 299 yards, their fourth highest total since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 and their highest since gaining 356 yards against Seattle.
TURNING POINT:
After the Dolphins reduce the deficit to 21-17, the Raiders go on an 11-play, 79-yard drive to seal victory. The first 10 plays are runs before Daunte Culpepper throws a 27-yard TD pass to Jerry Porter with 7:58 remaining.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders QB Daunte Culpepper
"There were a lot of questions about my knee. Everywhere I would go, people would ask me about my knee. I wanted to say, `Hey, I'm OK. I'm getting better every day."'
"I know Florida boys, and he’s a Florida boy."He was ready to come out and show everybody that Daunte Culpepper is still Daunte Culpepper. Maybe not the Daunte Culpepper who had the second-best season in league history, but Daunte Culpepper who can still play football."
Raiders DT Warren Sapp
"To break their will with the running game is a great feeling."
Raiders RB Justin Fargas
"It is frustrating, we are 0-4. We keep working hard during the week, but we just cannot seem to get it done on Sundays."
Dolphins TE Justin Peelle
BY THE NUMBERS:
3: Rushing TDs by the Raiders' Daunte Culpepper, which ties a franchise single-game record.
24:53: Dolphins time of possession, including only 2:04 in the fourth quarter.
35: Raiders points. Their most in a game since a 38-14 win over Buffalo on Oct. 23, 2005, a span of 30 games.
179: Rushing yards for the Raiders' Justin Fargas on 22 carries.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders snap a 12-game road losing streak. Before beating the Dolphins, Oakland’s previous victory away from McAfee Coliseum was a 16-13 win at Washington on Nov. 20, 2005.
The Raiders end a six game regular-season losing streak against the Dolphins and get their first win in Miami since 1990. They're 8-7-1 against the Dolphins in Miami, including 0-1 postseason.
Raiders QB Daunte Culpepper (8) reacts after
scoring his third TD against the Dolphins.
