Five takeaways from UNC's road football upset of Pitt on Saturday

From the way Saturday started, North Carolina looked well on its way to a third-straight loss on the football field. The Tar Heels' offense couldn't get anything going, while Pitt's offense controlled time of possession.

After halftime, momentum slowly started shifting towards UNC. North Carolina picked off Panthers backup quarterback Holden Geriner three times, but didn't score off any of those turnovers.

The Tar Heels' defense eventually locked in, Billy Edwards and Shamar Easter connected on a 75-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and, after the final whistle sounded, UNC ended Pitt's perfect season with a 21-17 victory.

North Carolina (3-2, 1-1 ACC) entered Saturday without starting defensive linemen Isaiah Johnson and Jaylen Harvey. That lack of a pass-rush showed early, with Geriner completing passes at ease. The Tar Heels eventually broke through the Panthers' offensive line, with Donovan Hoilette recording a sack, plus Xavier Lewis and Timir Hickman-Collins combining for one.

UNC's defense made life miserable for Geriner late, particularly in the secondary, which also lost starting nickel back Kaleb Cost to an early injury. Michigan State transfer Ade Willie thrived as Cost's replacement, repeatedly earning praise for his coverage on the radio broadcast.

North Carolina only generated 20 rushing yards against a stout Pitt defense, forcing a play-action and overall pass-heavy attack. Jordan Shipp built on his career game against Notre Dame, Jelani Thurman caught another touchdown and the Tar Heels' offensive line, which allowed three sacks, came up with a few crucial blocks late.

As UNC celebrates today's ranked win and looks to generate momentum heading into Duke, take a look at our top five takeaways.

North Carolina won primarily due to its defense

Pitt scored seven quick points against the Tar Heel defense on Saturday, then added a second-quarter field goal. What once proved to be UNC's strength appeared headed for a second-straight letdown.

After halftime, North Carolina started making plays. The Tar Heels generated a pair of sacks, started wrapping up ball-carriers on first attack and made Geriner uncomfortable.

On the Panthers' final drive, UNC forced Geriner into four straight incompletions. Saturday looked more like a Belichick-led defensive unit, which anchored the upset win

Billy Edwards still has lots to work on…but he is clutch

Tar Heel Nation loved what it saw from Edwards through two weeks, but his performance at Clemson created concern. Edwards turned the ball over twice vs. Notre Dame, then two more times vs. Pitt.

Despite his early struggles on Saturday, Edwards settled in and looked much more like his Week 1 and 2 self. On the first play of North Carolina's eventual, game-winning drive, Edwards connected with tight end Shamar Easter on a deep, inside post for a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

Edwards ended his afternoon with 249 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns, completing 18 of his 26 passes. Sure, he wasn't perfect, but Edwards came through when UNC needed him most.

Shamar Easter brings another big-play X-factor to UNC's offense

Jordan Shipp is the Tar Heels' best pass-catcher. Jelani Thurman is North Carolina's top tight end. For the past two weeks, there's another playmaker carving out a role on the Tar Heels' offense.

That playmaker is Shamar Easter, who caught his lone pass on Saturday for a 75-yard, go-ahead touchdown that eventually proved to be UNC's game-winning score.

Easter caught a touchdown to open the scoring vs. Notre Dame last week, then delivered his milestone moment in the fourth quarter Saturday.

That's two straight weeks with a score now for Easter, who began his collegiate career at Arkansas. Easter now gives North Carolina opponents another star to be worried about.

The Tar Heels' offensive line overcame early struggles and made an impact late

UNC's offensive line typically comes under fire, allowing multiple sacks in several games this season. Pitt got to Edwards three times on Saturday.

When the Tar Heels needed their o-linemen to deliver late, deliver they did. North Carolina made a couple great blocks on Easter's go-ahead touchdown score, giving Edwards just enough time to connect with his big-play tight end.

UNC's ability to wrap up the ball-carrier proved a difference-maker

The Tar Heels know how to tackle. On Saturday vs. Pitt, UNC players totaled 98 tackles. In one game. Star defensive lineman Xavier Lewis and starting linebacker Derek McDonald led North Carolina in the tackling department, totaling 12 tackles and one TFL each.

The Tar Heels struggled tackling early, but wrapped the Panthers up on first contact as they tried to rally late. Without strong tackling on Saturday, UNC doesn't win.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Five takeaways from UNC's road football upset of Pitt on Saturday