49ers vs. Cardinals: Notable stats in a dominating win

The 49ers put together a strong performance on Monday Night Football and naturally it resulted in quite a few intriguing statistics. A big one is this was the team's 42nd MNF win. The 49ers now sit one win back of the Dallas Cowboys for most MNF wins in NFL history. The 49ers have one more Monday Night game this season, hosting the Chicago Bears, so they have a chance to match Dallas (who have no more MNF games this year).

My favorite stat has to be the 49ers holding the Cardinals to seven yards rushing, TOTAL. That actually tied the franchise record, set in against the New Orleans Saints in 1972, and also on the road. The 49ers rush defense was having none of the Cardinals rushing attack, and I think the Cardinals realized that fairly quickly.

This game also marked the fourth time this season the 49ers have not allowed an opponent to score a touchdown. It appears the record number of games is five, and with the Rams on the schedule two more times and the Cardinals still having to come up to San Francisco, they have a shot at matching that mark.

Aldon Smith had two sacks, benefiting on one from John Skelton slipping out of the grasp of Ahmad Brooks. Smith has 7.5 sacks on the season and 21.5 for his career. He is the second fasted 49er to get to 20 sacks, one game behind Fred Dean. It is safe to say Aldon is kind of a beast.

The offensive side of the ball had its own share of strong performances. Alex Smith set an NFL record for highest completion percentage with a minimum of 15 attempts. That is .3% ahead of Craig Morton in 1981 and Fran Tarkenton in 1977.

Randy Moss moved up the record books, climbing into a tie with Terrell Owens for fourth place on the all-time touchdown list with 156. Moss is now 6 behind Ladanian Tomlinson for third. This was also Moss' 18th Monday Night Football touchdown in 19 games. The 49ers host the Bears in a few weeks on Monday Night Football, so we'll see if he gets a chance to add to his MNF total.

And of course, the 49ers continued their recent dominance against the NFC West. The 49ers are 7-1 against the West under Coach Jim Harbaugh, and are actually 16-4 against the West since 2009. That equals New England for most divisional wins in that span.

With the Win...

• The San Francisco 49ers improved to 7-1 in NFC West divisional games under head coach Jim Harbaugh and 2-0 against the NFC West this season. The 7 divisional wins are t-2nd most in the NFL since 2011.
• San Francisco improved its overall record against the Arizona Cardinals to 25-17, and 11-9 on the road.
• The 49ers have won at least 6 of their first 8 games for the second consecutive season (7-1 in 2011), the first time the team has done so in back-to-back seasons since 2001-02. (6-2 in 2001 and 2002).
• The Niners improved their prime time record to 63-32 overall and to 25-17 on the road.
• The 49ers improved to 12-3 under Harbaugh when scoring first.
• The 49ers improved to 42-25 on Monday Night Football, including 19-14 on the road.
• San Francisco improved to 5-1 against the Cardinals on Monday Night Football, including going 4-1 against Arizona on MNF since 2007.

We Owned the Night:

• Coupled with last week's 13-6 win vs. Sea. on Thursday Night Football (10/18), the 49ers have won back-to-back prime time games for the first time since Oct. 2001, [19-17 at NYJ (10/1/01 - MNF), 24-14 vs. Car. (10/7/01 - SNF)].
• This marked the 49ers 42^nd win on Monday Night Football, the 2^nd most in NFL history behind the Dallas Cowboys (43 wins).

Most All-Time Wins on Monday Night Football
	Team	Wins
1.	Dallas Cowboys	43
2.	San Francisco 49ers	42
3.	Miami Dolphins	40
4.	Pittsburgh Steelers	39
5.	Oakland/L.A. Raiders	37

Divisional Dominance:

• The 49ers have gone 16-4 against the NFC West since 2009. The 16 wins are tied for the most divisional wins in the NFL during that span. (New England 16-4).

Most Divisional Wins Since 2009
	Team	Record	Pct.
1t.	San Francisco 49ers	16-4	.800
	New England Patriots	16-4	.800
3.	Green Bay Packers	15-4	.789
4.	Baltimore Ravens	15-5	.750

Smith's Record-Setting Night:

• QB Alex Smith completed 18 of 19 attempts for 232 yds., 3 TDs and a QB rating of 157.1. Smith set the single-game NFL record with a 94.7 comp. pct. with a minimum of 15 attempts.

Highest Completions Pct. In A Game In NFL History (min. 15 atts.)
Rank	Player	Date	Comps.	Atts.	Pct.
1.	Alex Smith, SF	10/29/2012	18	19	94.7
2t.	Craig Morton, Den.	9/27/1981	17	18	94.4
	Fran Tarkenton, Min.	11/13/1977	17	18	94.4
4t.	Steve McNair, Ten.	9/28/2003	15	16	93.8
	Steve Young, SF	10/16/1994	15	16	93.8

• Smith set a career high with a 93.3 (14 of 15) comp. pct. in the first half. His previous career high was 91.7 (11 of 12) comp. pct. vs. Arz. (12/4/05).
• Smith tied his career high with 3 TD passes. This marks the 8^th career 3 TD performance for Smith, with the last coming vs. Buf. (10/7/12).

Most Since '11:

• QB Alex Smith is 19-5 as a starter since the beginning of the 2011 season. The 19 wins are tied for the most in the NFL during that span.

Most Wins as a Starting QB Since 2011
	Player	Wins
1t.	Alex Smith, SF	19
	Aaron Rodgers, GB	19
3.	Tom Brady, NE	18
4t.	Joe Flacco, Bal.	17
	Matt Ryan, Atl.	17

Young M.C.:

• WR Michael Crabtree registered the second 2 TD performance of his career, hauling in 5 recepts. for 72 yds. and 2 TDs. His last 2 TD game was at StL (1/1/12).
• QB Alex Smith connected with Crabtree on a 3-yd. TD pass in the 1^st qtr.
• Crabtree's 2^nd TD came on a 9-yd. catch and run in the 2^nd qtr.
• Crabtree has now played in 50 regular season games and has registered at least 1 recept. in every game of his career.

Monday Night Moss:

• WR Randy Moss recorded a 47-yd. TD recept., marking his 2^nd TD of the season and 155^th of his career.
• Moss has now registered 18 TDs in 19 games on Monday Night Football.
• Moss now ranks tied for 4^th in the NFL with 156 total TDs.

Most Touchdowns in NFL History
Rank	Player	Rush	Rec	Ret	Total
1	WR Jerry Rice	10	197	1	208
2	RB Emmitt Smith	164	11	0	175
3	RB LaDainian Tomlinson	145	17	0	162
4t.	WR Randy Moss	0	155	1	156
	WR Terrell Owens	3	153	0	156

The Dynamic Duo:

• The 49ers improved to 18-0 under head coach Jim Harbaugh when RB Frank Gore and RB Kendall Hunter combine for 20 carries or more.
• Gore led the way with 55 yds. rushing on 16 carries, while Hunter added 43 yds. on 10 carries.

Shut Down the Run:

• The 49ers defense held Arizona to just 7 yards rushing, tying the fewest rushing yards the 49ers have allowed in a single game in franchise history [7 at NO (10/1/72)].

Fewest Rushing Yds. Allowed In A Game In Franchise History
Rank	Date	Opponent	Rush Yds.
1t.	10/29/2012	at Arizona	7
	10/1/1972	at New Orleans	7
3	11/2/2003	vs. St. Louis	9
4t.	11/29/2010	at Arizona	13
	12/1/1986	vs. NY Giants	13

• The 7 rushing yards allowed is the lowest output allowed in the NFL this season, surpassing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who held Car. to 10 rushing yds. (9/9/12).

Keeping ‘Em Out of the End Zone:

• The 49ers defense did not allow a TD for the 4th time this season, limiting the Cardinals to only 3 points. This is the 6^th time in franchise history that San Francisco has held its opponents out of the end zone in 4 games in a single season [2011 (4), 2009 (5), 2001 (4), 1984 (4), 1971 (4)].
• The 49ers have given up just 9 touchdowns this season, tied for the fewest in the NFL.

Fewest TDs Allowed (2012)
Rank	Team	TDs
1t.	San Francisco 49ers	9
	Chicago Bears	9
3.	Miami Dolphins	12
4.	Seattle Seahawks	13
5t.	Philadelphia Eagles	14
	Arizona Cardinals	14

Aldon Smith Reaches 20 Sacks:

• With 2.0 sacks on the day, LB Aldon Smith now has 21.5 career sacks. Smith reached 20.0 career sacks in just 24 games, becoming the 2^nd fastest in 49ers history, behind Hall of Famer Fred Dean who reached 20.0 sacks in 23 games from 1982-83.

Fastest To 20.0 Sacks in 49ers History (Since 1982)
	Player	Games
1.	Fred Dean	23
2.	Aldon Smith	24
3.	Dwaine Board	26
4.	Tim Harris	27

Bowman Brings the Pressure:

• The 49ers defense registered 4.0 sacks of Cardinals QB John Skelton.
• LB Aldon Smith brought down Skelton twice in the 4^th qtr., giving him 7.5 sacks on the season and 21.5 for his career.
• LB Ahmad Brooks tallied his 4^th sack of the season and 24^th of his career, taking down Skelton in the 4^th qtr.
• LB NaVorro Bowman sacked Cardinals Skelton late in the 2^nd qtr., giving him 2.0 sacks for the season and 4.0 for his career.
• Bowman's 2.0 sacks on the season ties his career-high (2.0 in 2011).

Cully in the House:

• CB Chris Culliver notched his 2^nd INT of the season, and 3^rd of his career, picking off Cardinals QB John Skelton as the first half ended.

Just Bat it Down:

• CB Tarell Brown and CB Chris Culliver each registered 5 PDs, setting a new career high for both of them. According to the NFL Gamebook statistics, the 5 PDs by Brown and Culliver are tied for the most in the NFL this season, along with Den. CB Tracy Porter [5 PDs vs. Pit. (9/12)].

Akers extends franchise record:

• With 1 FG at Arz. K David Akers has now made at least 1 FG in all 24 games as a 49er, extending the franchise record with most consecutive games with a FG.

200 Games for Jennings:

• TE/LS Brian Jennings has now played in 200 consecutive games, the 2^nd longest streak in 49ers history (Len Rohde - 208 games).
• TE/LS Brian Jennings has now played in 200 consecutive games, the 2^nd longest streak in 49ers history (Len Rohde - 208 games).

Nifty 50:

• WR Michael Crabtree and LB Tavares Gooden each played in their 50^th NFL game.

Extending Their Streaks:

• TE/LS Brian Jennings has now played in 200 consecutive games.
• DT Justin Smith has now started 179 consecutive games, dating back to his rookie season in 2001. Smith's consecutive start streak ranks 3^rd among defensive players, behind Ronde Barber (206) and London Fletcher (187), and 4^th among all NFL players, behind Barber, Fletcher and Jeff Backus (183),
• TE Vernon Davis has now started 83 consecutive games, which ranks 3^rd in the NFL among TEs behind Tony Gonzalez (93) and Jason Witten (90).
• C Jonathan Goodwin has now started 62 consecutive games, the 5^th most among centers.
• K David Akers has now played in 113 consecutive NFL games, the 3^rd most in the NFL among kickers.
• P Andy Lee played has played in 136 consecutive NFL games, t-2nd most among NFL punters.