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The game against the Arizona Cardinals featured the most balanced offensive attack the 49ers have had this year. It didn't start out well, but once Vernon Davis got his hands on the ball, there was no turning back. The Cardinals started out looking to stop the run game and also keying on Anquan Boldin with double teams. It was effective for a time with the offense hard-pressed to get any first downs, but Greg Roman was able to adjust by going to Davis-created mismatches. The deep strikes by Colin Kaepernick to VD effectively stretched the Arizona defense allowing Frank Gore & Co. to begin smashing their way to clock-gobbling yardage. Offensive efficiency reached it's peak late in the game with an 18 play, 89-yard, 9+ minute drive that was so good, it produced another entry to the Book of Harbaughnyms: "grinding meat offense".
49ers Moving the Ball With Balance (Scout)
Jim Harbaugh, 49ers hope offense can build off marquee drive (Inman)
49ers moving the ball with both phases of offense (Yahoo/AP)
Davis' big day highlights what could be (Williams)
Game analysis and recaps
Stats and Facts: 49ers vs. Cardinals (49ers)
Infographic: 49ers Defeat Cardinals (49ers)
ReFo: Cardinals @ 49ers, Week 6 (PFF)
Film review: McDonald not himself; Staley excels; two-faced special teams (Barrows)
Upon Further Review: 49ers Week 6 (Williamson)
Table setting
Of course we cannot forget that it was the defense that set the tone and controlled the game until the offense could get their heads out of the sand and do something positive. The olive jar is indeed open and turnovers are popping out in bunches: 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions added to the defense's total this week. | Credit defense for assists in 49ers' scoring binge (Branch)
Vic Fangio rarely blitzes which puts the burden on the defensive line to generate pressure on the quarterback. What's surprising is that the line is doing just that without Aldon Smith in the lineup. | 49ers getting pressure without Smith (Williamson)
If Patrick Willis is the heart of the defense, then NaVorro Bowman is the lungs breathing life into them even when Willis was out. | LB NaVorro Bowman to be featured in documentary (Branch)
Practice makes perfect
There are going to be new and much anticipated faces in practice this coming week, which will definitely help bolster a Niners roster depleted by injuries. Potentially returning to the practice field this week are Mario Manningham, Quinton Dial, Tank Carradine and Eric Wright.
Harbaugh: Carradine, Dial among four injured players to join practice on Tuesday (Barrows)
Mario Manningham to Start Practicing (Price)
Harbaugh expects four to make practice debuts this week (Maiocco)
Assorted team notes
O-M-G-L-M-J | Jim Harbaugh says LaMichael James will be back, LMJ still tweeting about non-49ers matters (BASG)
Don't kick a man when he's down | Boone: Am I supposed to be an animal now? (Maiocco)
Sadly, another man has died as part of the work continuing on Levi's Stadium | Worker dies at construction site (ESPN/AP)
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