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Passing: 6 - 11, 54 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Daunte Culpepper came in for the injured Matthew Stafford in Week 4. Stafford hurt his knee in the fourth quarter so Culpepper came in and played respectably, but the game was already decided by the point of the game where he entered. Culpepper's value is only if Stafford is held out next week against Pittsburgh.
Passing: 23 - 37, 282 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 3 / 44 / 0
Daunte Culpepper stepped in to start for Matthew Stafford against the Steelers in Week 5. He showed good speed when running out of the pocket, something he had to do quite often with LB James Harrison speeding in his direction on several occasions. Culpepper threw well and spread the ball to nine different receivers, a fact unfortunately helped some by the loss of Calvin Johnson to injury early in the contest. Culpepper still tends to hold the ball a little too long and also overthrew some open targets, but overall he did quite well against a tough opponent. Culpepper is likely to start again next week (at Green Bay) to buy Matthew Stafford two weeks off thanks to Detroit's Week 7 bye.
Passing: 6 - 14, 48 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Culpepper started for the injured Matt Stafford was completely ineffective, having a forgettable effort vs. the Packers in week 6. Daunte had a rough start (misreading a screen pass and throwing an INT on the teams first offensive drive) and was never able to get the Lions offense in gear. The list of reasons for the poor showing were plenty: lack of line support, injuries to key offensive players, and an ineffective running game. Culpepper pulled up lame after a 3rd quarter scramble and left thereafter with a hamstring injury. The Lions are off next week and it remains to be seen who will lead the them after the bye with the injuries piling up.
Passing: 2 - 3, 49 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: 1 / 7 / 0
Culpepper came into the game late in the fourth quarter after Matthew Stafford took a hard hit after a throw and re-injured his non-throwing shoulder. Culpepper completed one deep pass to Calvin Johnson, who went up to grab the ball between two Bengals near the goal line on a deep post.
Passing: 16 - 34, 135 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 7 / 11 / 0
Daunte Culpepper struggled against a good Baltimore defensive performance in Week 14. The Ravens kept the pressure up against Culpepper, who did try several passes deep downfield --- often in Calvin Johnson's direction --- but his timing and accuracy were decidedly off. Culpepper lacked accuracy and good timing as he threw two interceptions and could have easily given up more against a good Baltimore scheme. The Ravens, even without cornerback depth and with Ed Reed on the sideline, held Culpepper under 150 yards and controlled his numbers all game long. Culpepper will head back to the bench as soon as Matthew Stafford can play once again, which might be as soon as next week.
Passing: 6 - 12, 64 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 1 / 4 / 0
Culpepper gave the Lions no chance to win, and the team knew it. He was woefully short on deep throws, one of which resulted in an INT, and he was tentative and sluggish in the pocket. He took multiple sacks before Jim Schwartz decided he had enough and pulled Culpepper in the third quarter.
Passing: 7 - 12, 51 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: 2 / 16 / 0
Culpepper came in during the fourth quarter and began leading the hurry up offense of the Lions as they tried to get back into the game after being down 20-3. He performed well, leading his team down the field for a FG and made smart decisions, including pulling down the ball and running for a 12 yard gain on his second play. Culpepper wasn't perfect though, and on his second series, Culpepper rolled out and could have run for a big gain and possibly a first down. However, he hesitated and the defensive caught up to him from behind. In desperation he threw the ball too hard and it bounced into the turf for an incomplete pass. He's the lesser of two evils now, and could be the starter for week 17 against the Bears.
Passing: 23 - 34, 262 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 4 / 9 / 0
Culpepper started this game for the Lions with the intention of showcasing his talents in the hope that he could secure a starting job with another team next year. He also represented the best chance that the Lions had to win their final game of the season. Culpepper didn't get the win and probably didn't convince anyone that he's a starter either. Although he had some accurate throws, Culpepper had several major mistakes and probably prevented his team from winning. On their opening drive, Culpepper and Calvin Johnson were not on the same page, and Culpepper's second pass sailed 20 yards down the field and was easily intercepted. Later in the quarter, he had Bryant Johnson open on a 3rd and 2 deep in Chicago territory, but bounced the pass up to him and the Lions had to settle for a field goal. In the fourth quarter, Culpepper led his team back into the game, and tied it at 20 on a great play by Calvin Johnson to beat his defender for the TD. However, on the following series with the Lions trailing by seven, Culpepper threw three incomplete passes after the Lions had 1st and 10 from the fourteen yardline. The Lions settled for a field goal and the game slipped away from them. Culpepper's performance was spotty, and he made several solid decisions at times during the game, and others, he missed his receiver badly or tried to force the ball into Calvin Johnson when he was well covered. He'll probably be a backup QB for someone else next season as Matthew Stafford is the future of Detroit and Culpepper believes he can still be an NFL starter.