CULPEPPER, VIKES GROWING IN STATURE.

Byline: NORMAN CHAD The NFL 

Sure, the St. Louis Rams are unbeaten, but the Minnesota Vikings?

Unless you're Kurt Warner, you don't win the first six starts of your NFL quarterbacking career. But that's what Daunte Culpepper has done.

Warner is your classic dropback passer; Culpepper your classic drop back and avoid the oncoming rush and then scramble for 12 yards or throw a bomb to Randy Moss with six guys hanging onto you passer.

He's a warehouse on wheels.

You want a freak? At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, Culpepper has pretty much the size of Jevon Kearse and the speed of Dale Earnhardt. You don't tackle Culpepper - you surround him, stagger him and smother him. Watching defenders trying to bring down Culpepper with their bare hands is like watching Lilliputians trying to tie down Gulliver with those cords.

Curiously, as Culpepper's reputation grows, so does his size. Every week I watch the Vikings, the TV guys mention him as bigger than the week before.

By season's end, he'll be the Abominable Snowman. Mammoth and mobile, Culpepper also has been mentally sharp. Essentially a second-year rookie, he keeps making good decisions, compiling the fourth-highest passer rating in the NFL (98.3) and rushing for 248 yards and four touchdowns.

Culpepper's success is largely because of the decision-making of his coach. What Dick Wolf is to ``Law and Order,'' Dennis Green is to the Minnesota Vikings.

He wins regardless of the cast he hires. In this, his ninth season with the Vikings, Green will make the playoffs for the eighth time - with seven different quarterbacks (Sean Salisbury, Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Brad Johnson, Randall Cunningham, Jeff George and Culpepper). Folks squawk about Green's 3-7 postseason record, but, I guarantee you, if a coach makes it into the playoffs often enough, eventually he'll make it to the Super Bowl.

There is an exception: Marty Schottenheimer. But, consistent with my Daunte & Dennis theme, I will support the Vikings this week as six-point home favorites against the Buffalo Bills.

(Giants note: Contrary to published reports, Jason Sehorn did not leave the game in the first quarter Sunday with broken ribs; rather, he went back to the locker room to film a music video.)

As always, the following picks against the point spread are for recreational purposes only:

--Broncos (-10) at Bengals: Bill and Julie Romanowski's Halloween treats: Snickers, Kit Kat, Creatine Monohydrate . . . Most kids in Romanowskis' neighborhood will trick or treat as pharmacists this year . . . To be really scary, the Romanowskis have decorated their front porch to look like a weight room . . . Tip from Julie Romanowski: ``Weight loss supplements provide balance to fattening Halloween candy.'' Pick: Broncos.

--Cardinals at Cowboys (-7): Cowboys' Troy Aikman, overheard in huddle last week: ``All right, now so far this has been unacceptable. I right, jetscat right, zero 68, F hook swing. All right? Does everybody got that? All right, I'll tell you what we're going to do then. Everybody's gonna go long. Except you, Julio - you're blocking.'' Pick: Cowboys.

--Bears at Eagles (-6 1/2): Subway Series? Hah! Give me the Pennsylvania Turnpike Super Bowl with these Eagles and my Steelers . . . Out of habit, Bears LB Brian Urlacher tackled fellow shopper trying to get past him in Aisle 6 of Oak Lawn, Ill., Safeway. Pick: Eagles.

--Seahawks at Raiders (-7 1/2): In succession, Seahawks have given up 10, 12, 24, 26 and 37 points. Spotting these trends is what allows The Man to stroll into this nation's finest eateries and shout out to my waiter, ``Bobo, the clams casino!'' Pick: Raiders.

--Titans at Ravens (-1): Coach Brian Billick's latest idea to jump-start offense: Camouflage uniforms . . . Billick despondent when his offensive playbook did not receive a National Book Award nomination. Pick: Titans.

--Browns at Steelers (-9 1/2): Bausch & Lomb Inc. is cutting about 450 jobs, or 3.75 percent of its work force. First to go is the unit that makes contact lenses that help Tim Couch read defenses. Pick: Steelers.

--Rams (-7) at Chiefs: Taking cue from NASCAR, the NFL has asked Rams offense to install restrictor plates . . . As a child, Kurt Warner used to race Obi Wan Kenobi to their local 7-Eleven. Pick: Chiefs.

--Dolphins at Jets (-3): With success of neck pad, Jets LB Bryan Cox considering adding rear-view mirror to helmet . . . Jets: Today 5-1, tomorrow 8-8. Pick: Dolphins.

--Saints (-1) at Falcons: Jim Haslett has Saints at 3-3, bringing back memories of time Moses parted the Red Sea. Pick: Falcons.

--49ers at Panthers (-3): When practice breaks up early, 49ers veterans like to drive to Silicon Valley and taunt dot-com millionaires. Pick: 49ers.

--Patriots at Colts (-9): Following his comedy roots, coach Bill Belichick has added laugh track to Patriots' game film. Pick: Colts.

--Redskins (-3) at Jaguars: Redskins' high-handed honcho Daniel M. Snyder quietly taking bids for naming rights to his children. Pick: Jaguars.