John Nestor
Quarterback Alex Smith passed for 267 yards with two touchdowns and the San Francisco 49ers pummeled the Cardinals, 23-7 to capture their eighth straight win Sunday at Candlestick Park.
San Francisco's roaring streak extended as Smith overcame a lackluster start to throw two touchdowns in the second half in a game dominated by the 49ers defense.
David Akers connected on all his three field goal attempts to put the 49ers ahead, 9-0, in a touchdown-less first half.
Smith found his groove after the break as he threw his first TD on an 8-yard hookup with wideout Kyle Williams at 7:12 of the third quarter.
Smith struck again three minutes later with an 18-yard TD pass to Vernon Davis, giving the 49ers a 23-0 cushion going into the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals scored their only TD on a 23-yard catch by Pro Bowl wideout Larry Fitzgerald from quarterback Richard Bartel in the 8:38 minute of the fourth quarter.
Cardinals quarterback John Skelton covered only 99 yards with three interceptions, while Bartel was 8-for-16 for 64 yards and a touchdown as his replacement.
Linebacker Patrick Willis spearheaded the 49ers defense with 7 tackles, three pass deflections and one interception.
With a 9-1 record, the 49ers lord on top of NFC South ahead of the Seattle Seahawks (4-6), the Cardinals (3-7), and the St. Louis Rams (2-8).
On Thursday, the 49ers are in for a tough match when they visit the AFC North leader Baltimore Ravens (7-3).
The Cardinals will try to bounce back from their loss when they battle the St. Louis Rams Sunday.
NFL FOOTBALL NEWS & ARTICLES
BASEBALL | BASKETBALL | COLLEGES | FOOTBALL | GOLF | HOCKEY | OLYMPICS | SOCCER | TENNIS
Receive our NFL News & Analysis by email by subscribing here
NFL Super Bowl History
NFL Super Bowl History, Scores, Summaries & Super Bowl MVP Articles
NFL 2011 Week 11 - Alex Smith Lifts 49ers Over Cards For 8th Straight Win