Drop only blot for 49ers’ Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. — On an almost perfect Monday night for Alex Smith, the San Francisco 49ers flexed their NFC West division dominance with a 24-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Smith completed 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards and 3 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 consecutive lost.
Smith’s only incompletion was dropped by a wide-open receiver.
Smith was 14 of 15 for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns, both to Crabtree, as the 49ers built a 17-0 halftime lead.
Moss caught a 47-yard touchdown 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 the way with five catches for 72 yards.
Arizona’s defense, supposed to be the team’s strength, missed tackle after tackle in a nationally televised performance at home. The 24 points were the most allowed by the Cardinals this season.
Led by Smith’s near-perfect passing, the 49ers methodically dominated from the start. The San Francisco quarterback had the best completion percentage of his career, and he would have been perfect had Delanie Walker not dropped the ball when he was wide open on a crossing route in the first half.
A 10-play, 77-yard drive that took just over six minutes of the first quarter put San Francisco up 7-0. On third-and-goal from the 3, Smith threw a sideline pass to Crabtree, who outfought Patrick Peterson for the ball and the touchdown.
David Akers’ 43 yard field goal made it 10-0 with 5:58 left in the half.
Crabtree beat Peterson again for San Francisco’s second touchdown. Smith threw over the middle to the receiver, who caught the ball, then fooled Peterson with an inside move into the end zone to make it 17-0 with 1:41 left in the half.
Moss made it 24-0 with 7:27 left in the third quarter.
The Cardinals averted a shutout with Jay Feely’s 28yard field goal.
John Skelton, making his second start since Kevin Kolb went down with rib injuries, completed 32 of 52 passes for 290 yards, often overthrowing receivers. The Cardinals rushed for just 7 yards in nine attempts against the 49ers, who entered the game as the No. 1ranked defense in the NFL and No. 2 against the run.
Arizona’s final possession ended when Larry Fitzgerald was stopped at the 1.