Super Bowl XLIII - Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald

Larry Fitzgerald totaled 9 receptions for 152 yards and three TDs in 32-25 victory over Eagles

During the NFL regular season the pass-happy Cardinals totaled 630 passing attempts versus 340 rushing attempts.

The almost 2-to-1 pass-to-rush attempts ratio easily explains how their three receivers - Larry Fitzgerald (1,431), Anquan Boldin (1,038) and Steve Breaston (1,006) - all topped 1,000 receiving yards.

The acheivement marks the fifth time in NFL history that a team has had three players reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.

Albeit lofty regular season numbers, the Cardinals have proven during the playoffs that their receivers are more than legit.

In particular, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald who has excelled despite the Cardinals balanced attack in the playoffs. Arizona has run the ball 100 times and thrown it 100 times in 3 postseason games.

Fitzgerald has been simply amazing as his 419 receiving yards set a new NFL record in a single postseason capped by a an inspiring performance against the Eagles in the NFC Championship.

Larry Fitzgerald totaled 9 receptions for 152 yards and three TDs against the Eagles, giving him 23 receptions for 419 yards and five TDs in three postseason contests.

Fitzgerald's 419 receiving yards surpasses the 409 yards that Jerry Rice amassed in the 1988 postseason with the San Francisco 49ers.

Most Receiving Yards In a Single Postseason

419 Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona (2008)

409 Jerry Rice, San Francisco (1988)

404 Steve Smith, Carolina (2003)

401 Charlie Brown, Washington (1983)

391 Anthony Carter, Minnesota (391)

With 419 receiving yards in his first three career playoff games, Fitzgerald now has more receiving yards in his first playoff contests than any receiver in NFL history, moving passed Anthony Carter, who had 391 yards in his first three postseason games during the 1987 season with Minnesota.

Fitzgerald has now recorded five consecutive 100-yard receiving games dating back to the final two games of the regular season.

His three consecutive 100-yard games in the postseason ties the NFL record for consecutive 100-yard games in the playoffs, equaling Tom Fears (1950-51), Jerry Rice (1988-89) and Randy Moss (1999-2000).

With his three TD receptions versus the Eagles in the first half, Fitzgerald tied the NFL record for most TDs in a game, a record he now shares with five other players. With 152 yards receiving vs. Philadelphia, Fitzgerald became just the fourth player in NFL history to record multiple games with 150+ yards receiving in the postseason and the first to do so in consecutive games since Fred Biletnikoff in 1968.

Another Milestone in the Works

After his career-high three TD passes in the NFC Championship Game vs. Philadelphia, Larry Fitzgerald has five TD receptions as he enters the Super Bowl against the Steelers. His five TD receptions trail only Jerry Rice for the most TD receptions in a single postseason. Rice had six TD receptions in the 1988 postseason with San Francisco.

Most TD Receptions Single Postseason

6 Jerry Rice, San Francisco (1988)

5 Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona (2008)

5 Jerry Rice, San Francisco (2008)

5 Alvin Garrett, Washington (1982)

5 Dave Casper, Oakland (1977)

As a team, the Cardinals finished tied for second in the NFL with 51 total touchdowns in 2008.

The Cardinals had three players that are among the league leaders in TDs in their respective categories. Larry Fitzgerald tied for the league lead among receivers with 12 TDs while Anquan Boldin finished tied for third with 11.

Receiving TDs - NFL 2008 Regular Season

1t. Larry Fitzgerald (AZ) 12

1t. Calvin Johnson (Det) 12

3t. Anquan Boldin (AZ) 11

3t. Randy Moss (NE) 11

Three receivers tied with 10

When you are a receiver and Kurt Warner is your quarterback, chances are you are going to put up good numbers. Even if you are the second or third target, he has a knack for spreading the ball around. More so than any other quarterback in NFL history in fact. Larry Fitzgerald finished the season with 96 receptions, Anquan Boldin finished with 89 and Steve Breaston had 77. It marked just the fifth time in NFL history that three players on the same team hauled in 75+ receptions in a season and just the second wide receiver trio. Although it has happened just five times in league history, even more impressive is that Warner has now been the quarterback for three of the five teams that had three players with 75+ receptions in a season.

Three Players with 75+ Receptions in a Season

2008* Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (96), WR Anquan Boldin (89), WR Steve Breaston (77)

2002 Raiders WR Jerry Rice (92), RB Charlie Garner (91), WR Tim Brown (81)

2002* Rams WR Torry Holt (91), RB Marshall Faulk (80), WR Isaac Bruce (79)

2000* Rams WR Isaac Bruce (87), WR Torry Holt (82), RB Marshall Faulk (81)

1989 Redskins WR Art Monk (86), WR Ricky Sanders (80), WR Gary Clark (79)

*Kurt Warner was the QB