Pitt in the NFL: Fitzgerald leads Cardinals to win

By Greg Trietley

Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt wide receiver, 2002-2003) had a… Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt wide receiver, 2002-2003) had a season-high 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns Sunday against Philadelphia’s underperforming secondary when his Arizona Cardinals handed the Eagles a 21-17 loss. With his two scores, the 70th and 71st of his career, he surpassed Roy Green for the most career touchdowns in the franchise’s 91-year history.

Fitzgerald’s teammate LaRod Stephens-Howling (Pitt running back, 2005-2008) struggled between the tackles against Philadelphia, losing a yard on his only carry. The versatile running back, though, made two catches out of the backfield for 39 yards.

LeSean McCoy (Pitt running back, 2007-2008) had 81 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Eagles in the defeat. McCoy has scored in every game this year and is 94 rushing yards shy of his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, but Philadelphia is 3-6.

McCoy’s teammate Dion Lewis (Pitt running back, 2009-2010) carried the ball once against Arizona for a modest 2-yard gain. Lewis, one of four Pitt alumni featured in the Cardinals-Eagles game, also returned two kicks for 55 yards.

Tyler Palko (Pitt quarterback, 2002-2006) will make his first career NFL start when his Chiefs play at New England Monday night. He had 47 yards passing Sunday against the Broncos in relief of Matt Cassel, who left the game with an injured throwing hand.

“We feel good about Tyler or he wouldn’t be here as our number two quarterback,” Chiefs head coach Todd Haley said in a press conference Monday. “I have belief in Tyler. In his case, there is not a lot of regular season action to go on, but I feel like he’s done a great job while he’s been here of developing and getting better. He has a great understanding of how our offense works and what his role within it is.”

Jonathan Baldwin (Pitt wide receiver, 2008-2010) had one catch for 15 yards in Kansas City’s 17-10 loss to Denver Sunday. Baldwin, though, made a circus catch in the second quarter when he reached around safety Brian Dawkins and pinned the ball to the defender’s back as they fell to the ground, but an illegal formation penalty negated the reception.

Darrelle Revis (Pitt cornerback, 2004-2006) held Wes Welker to 46 yards receiving, but Tom Brady torched the Jets’ defense for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Revis’ New York Jets lost to New England 37-16 in a battle for first place in the AFC East.

“We speak about a lot of things here, and how we want to be as a team, as a defense, and tonight, there were just too many mistakes for us and it cost us,” Revis said in a press conference after the game.

Aaron Berry (Pitt defensive back, 2006-2009) had four tackles, and the Lions’ secondary limited Jay Cutler to 123 yards passing, but Chicago returned two interceptions for touchdowns to throttle Detroit, 37-13.

Clint Session (Pitt linebacker, 2004-2006) had a tackle for a loss in Jacksonville’s 17-3 victory over winless Indianapolis.

Andy Lee (Pitt punter, 2000-2003) had three punts for a 54.7-yard average in San Francisco’s seventh straight win, this one over the Giants, 27-20.

New York’s Henry Hynoski (Pitt fullback, 2008-2010) missed his fourth consecutive game with a neck injury that he suffered in a Week 5 collision against Seattle. The Giants utilized Hynoski as a blocking fullback in early-season action.