Alex Smith threw for 295 yards with two touchdowns and the San Francisco 49ers defense suffocated the Arizona Cardinals' offense on ESPN's "Monday Night Football" in a 34-17 win.
The win gives the 49ers a 2-0 record in their division and a two game lead over the next team in the NFC West. With a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter, Smith threw a 18-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis and a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham to make an Arizona comeback nearly impossible.
San Francisco's defense made John Skelton life miserable sacking the Cardinals' quarterback eight times in the game, picking him off twice and causing two fumbles. Skelton finished an abysmal 11 of 29 for 156 yards with four turnovers and one touchdown pass.
Arizona's running game wasn't much better, as the Niners held running back LaRod Stephens-Howling to 54-yards on 25 carries. However Stephens-Howling did get into the endzone on a 9-yard rush in the third quarter.
The 49ers were flawless on their opening drive as they drove 82 yards for touchdown in nine plays and were three for three on third down conversation. Frank Gore ran the ball in from the one yard-line. Gore finished with 87-yards on 17 carries.
San Francisco got the ball right back on a Carlos Rogers interception that was returned 52-yards for a touchdown. Rogers had two interceptions in the game. The interceptions were his first two ints of the season.
Arizona had eight penalties for 96 yards in the game. The loss is the Cardinals fourth in a row after start the season with four straight victories.
Do you think Madden NFL '13 got tonight's game right? So far the record of the simulations in Madden NFL 13 is 11-9. Read about the inclusion of real referees in Madden NFL '14 here.
Here is a list of Madden NFL 13's simulations for prime time games so far this season...
Week 1
Cowboys Vs. Giants
Week 2
Packers Vs. Bears
49ers Vs. Lions
Broncos Vs. Falcons
Week 3
Giants Vs. Panthers
Patriots Vs. Ravens
Packers Vs. Seahawks
Week 4
Browns Vs. Ravens
Giants Vs. Eagles
Bears Vs. Cowboys
Week 5
Cardinal Vs. Rams
Chargers Vs. Saints
Texans Vs. Jets
Week 6
Steelers Vs. Titans
Packers Vs. Texans
Broncos Vs. Chargers
Week 7
Seahawks Vs. 49ers
Steelers Vs. Bengals
Week 8
Buccaneers Vs. Vikings
