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Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald throws first career touchdown pass

Dec 23, 2018, 3:20 PM | Updated: 3:34 pm

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)...

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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BY DANNY SHAPIRO


Arizona Sports

Just when you thought Larry Fitzgerald couldn’t accomplish any more in his NFL career, he did on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Fitzgerald threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to running back David Johnson in the second quarter against the Rams, the receiver’s first touchdown pass in his illustrious career.

He took a backwards pass from quarterback Josh Rosen and lofted a perfect pass for Johnson, who came free on a wheel route.

Fitzgerald, 35, became the oldest wide receiver to throw a touchdown, breaking a record that stood since 1983.

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It was a fitting addition to a season in which Fitzgerald, who has 115 career touchdown receptions, has set several career marks.

The Cardinals might need more trickery and heroics from Fitzgerald if they want to upset the NFC West champions.

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Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) falls into the end zone for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) and Arizona Cardinals defensive back David Amerson defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett is hit by Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams running back John Kelly (42) is hit by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Gerald Hodges during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson (35) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) celebrates his touchdown pass with teammates against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) pulls in a touchdown pass from wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during the first half of an NFL football game as Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) pursues, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) pulls in a touchdown pass from wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) throws a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) laughs prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones (86) is hit by Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Mark Barron (26) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws over Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (77) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tries to elude Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) dives in for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive back David Amerson (38) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez (5) washes his field goal split the uprights against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tries to elude Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) recovers a fumble as Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen (55) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals free safety Antoine Bethea, right, tackles Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) gives a thumbs up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) greets head coach Steve Wilks prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) laughs prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) In this Nov. 18, 2018, file photo, Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, in Glendale, Ariz. The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Cardinals 40-14 on Sunday, Dec. 16. Another blowout loss has first-year coach Steve Wilks on even shakier ground. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) Arizona Cardinals center A.Q. Shipley (53) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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