49ers flatten Cardinals to boost NFC West lead

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) drops back to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (32) is tripped up against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mario Manningham (82) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) tries to gain yardage as Arizona Cardinals cornerback William Gay (22) and Paris Lenon (51) defend during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
San Francisco 49ers defensive back Chris Culliver breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) reacts to a missed pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 24-3. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
An Arizona Cardinals fan reacts to his team during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss (84) runs in a touchdown after a reception as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jamell Fleming (23) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 24-3. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) breaks the tackle of Arizona Cardinals cornerback William Gay (22) during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
San Francisco 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson (38) celebrates his hit on Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 24-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Cardinals' Quentin Groves sits on the ground after making a tackle during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 24-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) avoids a sack by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 24-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Bob Baum - Associated Press - Monday, October 29, 2012

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, as San Francisco (6-2) opened a two-game lead in the division and sent Arizona (4-4) to its fourth straight lost.

Smith’s only incompletion was dropped by a wide-open receiver.

Smith was 14 of 15 and for 146 yards and two touchdowns, both to Crabtree, to help the 49ers build a 17-0 halftime lead.

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49ers flatten Cardinals to boost NFC West lead

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) drops back to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter (32) is tripped up against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mario Manningham (82) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) tries to gain yardage as Arizona Cardinals cornerback William Gay (22) and Paris Lenon (51) defend during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

San Francisco 49ers defensive back Chris Culliver breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) reacts to a missed pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 24-3. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

An Arizona Cardinals fan reacts to his team during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss (84) runs in a touchdown after a reception as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jamell Fleming (23) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 24-3. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) breaks the tackle of Arizona Cardinals cornerback William Gay (22) during the first half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

San Francisco 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson (38) celebrates his hit on Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 24-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Arizona Cardinals' Quentin Groves sits on the ground after making a tackle during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 24-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) avoids a sack by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 24-3. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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