GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Pittsburgh Steelers were beaten Sunday at their owngame by their old offensive coordinator and might-have-been head coach.

Rookie Steve Breaston returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown and theArizona Cardinals’ defense shut down Pittsburgh’s high-scoring offense most ofthe day to hand the Steelers their first loss, 21-14.

Breaston’s burst up the middle for the go-ahead score early in the fourthquarter was the Cardinals’ first punt return for a touchdown in 14 years.

The Cardinals (2-2) ended Willie Parker’s string of four consecutive100-yard rushing games, limiting him to 37 yards in 18 carries.

But Pittsburgh rallied behind Ben Roethlisberger, whose second TD pass toSantonio Holmes, a 7-yarder, cut it to 21-14 with 1:49 to play.

However, Larry Fitzgerald recovered the onside kick attempt for Arizona. TheSteelers got the ball one last time at their 9 with 46 seconds to play. Theymade it to the 40, but Calvin Pace and Darnell Dockett sacked Roethlisberger,then Ralph Brown intercepted to seal the victory.

Arizona’s Adrian Wilson also intercepted Roethlisberger’s throw in the endzone in the third quarter to stop Pittsburgh on third-and-goal at the 2.

The Steelers (3-1) had scored 97 points in their first three games.

Arizona first-year coach Ken Whisenhunt and top assistant Russ Grimm bothwere leading contenders to replace Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh after last season.Whisenhunt was the Steelers’ offensive coordinator and Grimm was the assistanthead coach and offensive line coach at the time.

Instead the job went to outsider Mike Tomlin. Whisenhunt and Grimm headedfor the desert. There were hugs all around before the game, then came ahard-hitting defensive fight.

Whisenhunt’s two-quarterback approach worked well enough. Kurt Warnerreplaced starter Matt Leinart and, running a no-huddle offense, directed thetying touchdown drive in the third quarter. Leinart returned in the fourthquarter and led Arizona on a 13-play, 82-yard touchdown drive capped by EdgerrinJames’ 2-yard scoring run that made it 21-7 with 4:14 to play.

Leinart threw 38 yards to Fitzgerald on the first play of his return.Fitzgerald caught 11 passes for 123 yards.

The Steelers’ first-quarter touchdown came on third-and-26 whenRoethlisberger threw 43 yards to Holmes, who had six catches for 128 yards.

Both teams were without top receivers because of injuries, Arizona’s AnquanBoldin and Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward. The Steelers lost defensive starters TroyPalamalu (abdomen) and Casey Hampton (hamstring) early in the third quarter.