Oct. 29, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver (15) Michael Crabtree celebrates as he runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE
The 49ers take on the Cardinals in a Monday Night Football matchup tonight. Niners lead 24-0 in the third quarter. Follow along on this live blog as we provide updates and analysis of all the action.
Smiths Passing record will remain un-official since he did not have the league minimum 20 attempts for an official record.
Alex Smith leads the San Francisco 49ers to a dominating victory over the Arizona Cardinals, and sets an NFL passing record in the process. Excellent defense and well executed offense delivered by the 49ers in their 24-3 victory.
Thank you for following along to tonight’s live blog. The final score – 49ers 24, Cardinals 3. Stay tuned for a game recap.
Alex Smith 18-19 tonight — most passes in a game with only one incompletion in NFL history. @49ers dominate @azcardinals, 24-3.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 30, 2012
That 6 ard run will end the game, 24-3 is the final in Arizona, Niners over the Cardinals.
:49 left Niners ball and Alex Smith sneaks for 6 yards
Turnover on downs on a hard fought pass to Fitzgerald.
Patrick Willis in pass protection to bring up 4th and goal.
Brown breaks up yet another pass to bring up 3rd down.
Incomplete to Doucet, 2nd and Goal.
First and goal with 1:13 left, still a three score game.
Fitzgerald overthrown in the endzone by Skelton, 4th down.
Chris Culliver breaks up a pass in the endzone
First down pass to Fitzgerald brings us to the 2 minute warning. 24-3 Niners over the Cardinals.
Diving one handed grab by Floyd for 8.
More great defense as Brown breaks up a pass to Fitgerald
A short run by Hunter brings up 4th down, timeout Cards.
Niners ground game continues to pound away at Arizona’s defense.
Miller ploughs through the line for a first down.
8 yard pass to Davis makes it 18 of 19 for Alex Smith
Alex Smith is 17-18 on #MNF. NFL has never had a QB with 20+ pass attempts and only 1 incompletion (though Smith may not throw another pass)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 30, 2012
Timeout Ariona.
Pass broken up by Brown brings up 3rd and 23.
The Cards dig themselves deeper with a false start.
Aldon Smith with his second sack of the game!
First down to the 33 yard line fo the Cards
First down on back to back offsides penalties
Offside by Aldon Smith leads to 1st and 5 on the Cards 10
Penalty marker down on the return by Peterson, Illegal Block, long field for Skelton.
Th Niners continue to chew up the clock as they lead by 21 with 11:27 left in the 4th quarter.
5 yard carry by Hunter
Fair catch called, Niners ball at their own 46.
Aldon Smith with the sack on the following play!
Skelton sacked by Ahmad Brooks.
San Francisco is turning in an exceptional defensive performance againt the Arizona Cardinls tonight.
Crushing hit by Dashon Goldson levels Doucet. Legal hit, incomplete pass.
Excellent punt coverage by C.J. Spillman, Peterson goes nowhere.
Peterson continues to miss tackles against Crabtree.
12 yard loss on the sack of Smith ends the 3rd quarter
1 yard on the run by Gore as the Niners start working the clock.
No return on the kick by Arizona, 1st and 10 on the 20, Niners ball.
Arizona will kick the field goal from the 10 yrd line to make it 24-3
Excellent covrage on a pass to Fitzgerald in the endzone, 3rd down.
Arizona has a first down and are now in the redzone
First down pass to King.
Arizona comes up 2 yards shy of the first, brings up 4th and short.
Offeive P.I. call on Fitzgerald
Long pass to Rberts pick up the first for Arizona.
First down pass by Skelton to the 33
Randy Moss’ 47-yard touchdown is his 18th TD on Monday Night Football.5th of 40+ yards.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 30, 2012
That is Randy Moss’ 18th touchdown in 19 MNF games!
Correction the touchdown was 47 yards not 48.
San francisco takes a commanding 24-0 lead on the touchdown by Moss.
RandyMoss evades 2 defenders for a 48 yard touchdown on the pass from Smith!
Huge 28 yard gain on the pass to Crabtree, First down in Cardinal territory.
No gain on the pass to Ginn
49rs will take over at their own 20 after the punt sails into the endzone.
Crusshing hit on Roberts by Whitner brings up 4th down.
Patrick Willis is flashing his Pro-Bowl quality defensive skills.
27 yard pass to King, finally knocked out of bounds by Willis.
Run stuffed behind the line by Aldon Sith and Willis.
First down on the pass to Roberts.
Akers kcks the ball out of the back of the endzone to start the 2nd half.
San Francisco 49ers@49ers
Alex Smith’s first half stats: 14 of 15 for 146 yards and two TDs. He has a QB rating of 146.8.
The Cardinals fans start booing Skelton as an Interception by Culliver ends the half.
Final timeout taken by Arizona with 5 seconds left in the half.
NaVorro Bowman picks up his second sack of the season.
2 straight first downs for the Cardinal, timeout Arizona.
#SF49ers Michael Crabtree: 2nd game with multiple TD receptions. His other was in Week 17 last season against the Rams #MNF
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 30, 2012
The 49ers are firmly in control of the game through the first half.
Extra point makes it 17-0 Niners.
Smith to Crabtree, Touchdown Niners! 16-0.
Pass to Manningham makes it 3rd and goal at the 9, Niners take their final timeout.
2nd and goal
6 yard loss on the sack of Smith by Campbell.
25 yard reception by Vernon Davis brings us to the 2 minute warning.
The 49ers are just marching down the field on this possesion.
What an amazing catch by Delanie Walker on a tipped pass for another Niner first down.
Smith to Manningham, First Down Niners!
6 yards on the carry by Gore.
Ginn takes it out of bounds and the Niners will start at the 32.
Another three and out on great coverage by Culliver.
McDonald makes the tackle for a loss
Harbaugh and Niners 17-0 when Gore and K. Hunter combine for 20 carries. They have15 right now
— Dave Feldman (@FeldyCSN) October 30, 2012
6 yard on the pass to Roberts
Touchback on the kickoff, Cardinals take over at the 20.
Akers nails the field goal to put the Niners up by 10
Crabtree nearly gets the first down on a pass from Alex Smith
Frank Gore has gained 25 of his 47 rush yards after contact. He entered the game averaging 28.3 yards after contact per game.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 30, 2012
Niners take their second time out, 3rd and 23.
D-Washington gets his 7th sack of the season, 3rd and 23. SF takes 2nd Timeout
— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) October 30, 2012
Smith sacked. 3rd and LONG.
First down run by Gore, who plunged up the middle on 3rd and 2.
1st and 15.
Since the start of the 2011 season, the 49ers are 14-2 when Alex Smith has at least 1 Pass TD. They’re just 4-3 when he doesn’t throw one.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 30, 2012
9:34 in the half.
Ted Ginn Jr. returns punt to Cardinals 45. Best starting field position of night for #49ers
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) October 30, 2012
Punt was hammered, but a great return by Ginn Jr. Made some nice moves, out to midfield. Great FP for Smith and the O.
Agreed.
Justin Smith dropped the hardest clean hit you can put on a QB. That is all. @49ers
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) October 30, 2012
Short pass for about 3 yards. Arizona has to punt. Huge stop.
Stephens-Howling tackled for a loss. 3rd and 13.
Skelton hit hard on that incompletion.
Screen pass works on 3rd and 10. About 15 yards to Early Doucet. Killer for SF.
1st down AZ.
Fitzgerald is coming on the field, so there’s that. #azcardinals
— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) October 30, 2012
Fair catch by Patrick Peterson at the 9-yard line. Nice punt, once again, by Andy Lee.
Yep, the 49ers are dominating.
And that’s the end of the first quarter. The 49ers have 117 total yards. The Cardinals have 22. 49ers lead 7-0.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) October 30, 2012
Smith over the middle to Kyle Williams for 4. SF has to punt now.
3rd and 7, actually. Just one yard lost.
Gore loses a couple.
Looks like #AZCardinals are giving Fitzgerald a concussion test. Per broadcast booth.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 30, 2012
And it is. SF leads 7-0 after 1, and they have the ball. Things are looking pretty good for them.
Gore doesn’t have anywhere to go. He picked up 3 or 4 on that play, likely the last of the quarter.
Fitzgerald looks hurt, too.
Not a great return, but the 49ers have a first down on their own 44. 56 yards away from a 14-0 lead.
Yeah, definitely incomplete. AZ has to punt.
Dashon Goldson came up with the ball, but it looked incomplete.
Incompletion. 4th down.
False start. AZ only lost 2 on that play, so it’s 3rd and 17.
3 yard loss. 3rd and 13 after screen pass to Peterson.
Don’t know what Skelton did on that incompletion. Looked like a miscommunication. Either way, 2nd and 10.
AZ gets it at the 20.
Akers drills the PAT and the Niners lead 7-0. Skelton and AZ will get the ball back.
Leaping catch, too. Crabtree sure has great hands. Because of his hands, the Niners strike first.
Smith threw it right to Crabtree, and he caught it right on the goal line. Good throw, great catch.
Touchdown 49ers!!!
Odd little run for about 6 to Hunter, and it’s third and goal at the 4. Huge play here. SF needs a TD.
Gore back to the 9 or 10. Nice pursuit on the play by Arizona’s D-line.
Walker ran a corner route, Smith made a nice throw, and the ball is at the 7.
Smith to Delanie Walker.
1st and goal!
There was a flag. Hunter with 5 on 1st and 20, so it’s 2nd and 15 at the AZ 30.
Hunter loses a yard or two on a handoff.
About 20.
Gore with a big run for a first down. Found a hole, broke a tackle and got SF into FG range.
Hunter follows with a run for about 7, and SF is in Arizona territory.
Play action clogged up the middle, and deep routes cleared up some space for Gore. Nice play.
Screen pass to Gore for about 11 and a 1st down.
Smith to Davis for about 10 and a 1st down.
2nd and 5 at own 28.
Neither offense is doing well right now.
2nd down.
Incomplete. 4th down.
RB screen pass and handoff combine for 1 yard, and it’s 3rd and 9 at the SF 48.
Sorry: about 25.
Screen pass to Stephens-Howling for 30.
Unsportsmanlike conduct on C.J Spillman.
Cardinals will start inside the 15, around the 12.
Draw play for a loss of one, and it’s 4th and 23.
False start. 3rd and 22.
Patrick Peterson with the tackle.
WR screen fails, and it’s 3rd and long.
Smith calls timeout on 2nd and 14.
Never mind. Offensive facemask on Alex Boone.
Smith finds Hunter out of the backfield for 7 and a first down at the AZ 38.
Gore for 5.
Gore breaks a tackle and runs for about 12 yards; first down at midfield.
PI for an automatic first down.
Gore for 6 up the middle. 31, 2nd and 4.
Niners averaged 8 PPG in last two, both at home.
Ginn takes the kick to the 25 yard line.
Calais Campbell, who hates the 49ers with a passion, is VERY pumped.
If the 49ers win, however, they move two games ahead of Arizona and Seattle. If Arizona wins, they tie the Niners, and they would have the tiebreaker.
John Skelton vs Alex Smith. Arizona vs SF. These two teams hate each other, and first place is on the line.
Arizona wins coin toss and defers. Niners get the ball first.
Welcome to our live blog! Kickoff will be in a few minutes.
Topics: Arizona Cardinals, Live Blog, Monday Night Football, NFL, San Francisco 49ers
Eric runs Golden Gate Sports, a blog that covers all the sports teams in the Bay Area. He also contributes to Fansided.com as part of their news team. Born and raised in Northern California, Eric has followed Bay Area sports for his entire life, and just loves sports in general. Contact him via email at 
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