Week 8: Smith nearly Perfect as 49ers rollover Cardinals

Heading into Week 8's Monday Night match-up in the desert against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers would be given a chance to pad their lead in the NFC West standings before entering their BYE week in week 9. And with the game expected to be a close battle between two stout defenses coming in, it would instead end up being a one-sided shellacking. The story of the game, however, would be the near perfect performance from 49ers QB Alex Smith. After a career year last season in which Smith saw career-highs in just about every offensive category, 2012 has already had its fair share of ups and downs for the former number one overall pick out of Utah. 

On this night Smith would be at his best, completing 18 of 19 passes for 232 passing yards and tying a personal best with three touchdowns in the 49ers 24-3 walloping of the Cardinals. Though he didn't awe fans with his number of yards, he did with his accuracy as his 94.7 completion percentage set an NFL record with a minimum of 15 attempts. Two of Smith's three touchdown grabs were made by Michael Crabtree who racked up 5 receptions for 72 yards and proved to be a headache for Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson. Randy Moss who's seen limited action as a 49er this season saw much of the same, making only one grab but he turned it into a 47-yard touchdown, displaying cuts and juke moves that resembled the old Randy Moss. Arizona's John Skelton threw for 290 yards, but wasn't able to do much else as Aldon Smith and company kept the Cardinals QB from putting any points on the board. 

The 49ers run combination of Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter had another decent game nearly combining for 100 yards rushing, compared to Arizona's ground attack which was kept in check the entire meeting by the NFL's no. 1 ranked defense while being held to only 7 yards. Had it not been for Cardinals kicker Jay Feely who split the uprights from 28 yards out in the third quarter, the 49ers would've had their second shutout victory of the season. But as coach Harbaugh would say, a win is a win. And a win heading into the BYE week makes things that much easier and relaxing during the team's week away from competition. With a stellar defense and run game, San Francisco's air attack has been their only concern this season and has been the only thing that's kept any doubts the critics may have of the 49ers winning a sixth Super Bowl title alive. But if Smith can continue to have games similar to this one, not necessarily completing a record setting number of his passes, but playing mistake-free football and not trying to do too much with the ball, San Francisco might be on their way to their second straight NFC Championship game. 

Preview & Prediction: When the 49ers return to the playing field in Week 10, they'll host a 3-5 St. Louis Rams team that has lost three straight. And just like the 49ers, the Rams are coming off a BYE week of their own. Unfortunately for them not only will they be welcomed by another well rested team, but they'll be welcomed by arguably the best team in the league. Expect a big day from the 49ers offense which should get huge contributions from both the rushing and passing department as well as a dominant performance from the San Francisco defense that'll keep Rams QB Sam Bradford on his heels, scrambling around all game long and cause him to make numerous turnovers in a 27-6 win for the 49ers. 


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