Smith, Niners flatten Cardinals, 24-3
BY BOB BAUM Associated Press
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
10/30/12 at 5:43 AM
GLENDALE, Ariz. - On an almost perfect Monday night for Alex Smith, the San Francisco 49ers flexed their NFC West dominance with a 24-3 flattening of the Arizona Cardinals.
Smith completed 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns - two to Michael Crabtree and one to Randy Moss - to help San Francisco (6-2) open a two-game lead in the division and send Arizona (4-4) to its fourth straight lost.
Smith's only incompletion was dropped by a wide-open receiver.
Smith was 14 of 15 for 146 yards and two touchdowns, both to Crabtree, as the 49ers built a 17-0 halftime lead.
Moss caught a 47-yard TD pass, dodging tacklers down the sideline on a play that seemed to turn back the clock to the receiver's prime. With the catch, he tied Terrell Owens for fourth on the NFL career touchdown list with 156.
Smith, who tied a career high with the three touchdown passes, spread out his completions to 10 receivers. Crabtree led with five catches for 72 yards.
Arizona's defense, supposed to be the team's strength, missed tackle after tackle in an embarrassing nationally televised performance at home.
49ers 24, Cardinals 3
| San Francisco |
7 |
10 |
7 |
0 |
- |
24 |
| Arizona |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
- |
3 |
First Quarter
SF: Crabtree 3 pass from Ale.Smith (Akers kick), 1:53.
Second Quarter
SF: FG Akers 43, 5:58.
SF: Crabtree 9 pass from Ale.Smith (Akers kick), 1:41.
Third Quarter
SF: Moss 47 pass from Ale.Smith (Akers kick), 7:27.
Ari: FG Feely 28, :57.
A: 62,810.
| SF | Ari |
| First downs | 15 | 16 |
| Total Net Yards | 317 | 265 |
| Rushes-yards | 29-113 | 9-7 |
| Passing | 204 | 258 |
| Punt Returns | 5-59 | 4-15 |
| Kickoff Returns | 1-31 | 0-0 |
| Interceptions Ret. | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 18-19-0 | 32-52-1 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 4-28 | 4-32 |
| Punts | 5-48.8 | 7-47.3 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 10-80 | 7-51 |
| Time of Possession | 31:16 | 28:44 |
Individual statistics
Rushing: San Francisco, Gore 16-55, Hunter 10-43, Crabtree 1-8, Ale.Smith 1-6, Miller 1-1. Arizona, Stephens-Howling 8-6, Skelton 1-1.
Passing: San Francisco, Ale.Smith 18-19-0-232. Arizona, Skelton 32-52-1-290.
Receiving: San Francisco, Crabtree 5-72, Manningham 4-20, Walker 2-38, V.Davis 2-34, Moss 1-47, Gore 1-11, Hunter 1-6, K.Williams 1-4, Ginn Jr. 1-0. Arizona, Roberts 7-65, Fitzgerald 5-52, Floyd 5-36, Housler 4-32, King 3-43, Stephens-Howling 3-32, Doucet 2-21, Sherman 2-11, Peterson 1-(minus 2).
