WATCH: Jordan Addison's Insane Sideline Catch | Javian Hawkins Takes It 75-Yards For The TD?

PITTSBURGH (AP) Kenny Pickett threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 21 Pitt sacked Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham seven times in a 23-20 victory on Saturday.

The Panthers moved to 3-0 for the first time since 2014 behind a relentless defense that kept the 24th-ranked Cardinals (1-2, 0-2 ACC) in check for most of the afternoon. Pitt limited Louisville to 223 total yards - less than half of its season average coming in - and picked off Cunningham three times, including twice in the fourth quarter.

Cunningham completed just 9 of 21 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown to go with three picks. He was taken off the field on a stretcher following his fourth-down heave that ended up in the hands of Pitt's Jason Pinnock with 1:19 to go. Freshman defensive lineman Calijah Kancey had his arms wrapped around Cunnigham's legs as he let the pass go. There was no immediate word on the nature of Cunnigham's injury.

Senior defensive end Patrick Jones II collected three sacks for the Panthers, who are threatening to lead the nation in the category for the second straight season. Pitt (3-0, 2-0) has 17 sacks through three games, including 14 since conference play opened last week against Syracuse.

Pitt kicker Alex Kessman bounced back from three misses against the Orange to drill three field goals of 41 yards or more. Taysir Mack scored on a 41-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter when he somehow kept his left knee off the ground while being tackled near the Louisville 20. Everyone on the field pulled up except for Mack, who raced to the end zone to give Pitt a 20-17 lead.

Louisville running back Javian Hawkins scored on a 75-yard sprint but otherwise managed just 3 yards rushing on his other 12 attempts. The Cardinals converted just 1 of 11 third downs and ran just 51 plays compared to 76 for the Panthers. Take away Hawkins' run, a 21-yard touchdown pass from Cunningham to Tutu Atwell and a 31-yard run on a fake punt and the Cardinals had just 96 yards on their other 48 plays.

UP NEXT

Louisville: Is off next weekend then visits Georgia Tech on Oct. 9.

Pitt: Wraps up a stretch of four straight games at Heinz Field to start the season when NC State visits next Saturday. The Wolfpack won the last meeting between the schools 35-17 back in 2017.