Postgame analysis: 49ers 24, Cardinals 3

The San Francisco 49ers are the class of the NFC West.

In a meeting between the division's top two teams Monday night, according to the standings, the 49ers (6-2) wasted little time showcasing a little bit of everything against the Arizona Cardinals (4-4).

QB Alex Smith turned in an historic performance, completing 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards with thee touchdowns and no picks in San Francisco's 24-3 win at Phoenix Stadium. In NFL history, no quarterback has ever had only one incompletion when throwing this many passes, and the one that wasn't complete came on a drop by TE Delanie Walker .

As good as Smith was, the rush defense was even better. The 49ers tied their franchise record by allowing just seven yards.

When the game turned: The 49ers scored 17 points on three straight drives spanning the second and third quarters to make it 24-0. There was no life in Arizona's offense after that -- or before that, really.

Highlight moments: WR Randy Moss delivered a vintage Randy Moss play on a 47-yard TD reception. Most of the yards came after the catch when the 35-year-old made two tacklers miss and then easily outran the Cardinals defense to the end zone.

Top-shelf performances:

• QB Smith -- 18 of 19 for 232 yards, 3 TD passes, no INTs. His 157.1 QB rating was the best performance of his career.
  
  
• WR Michael Crabtree -- 5 catches, 72 yards, 2 TDs
  
  
• WR Andre Roberts -- 7 catches, 65 yards
  
  
• OLB Aldon Smith -- 5 tackles, 2 sacks
  
  
• LB Daryl Washington -- 6 tackles, 2 sacks

What they said about pre-game speculation that Alex Smith had lost his confidence:

• 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh -- "I don't think there was ever a question (about Alex's confidence). I think there was just a lot of gobble, gobble, turkey. ... Gobble, gobble, gobble, turkey, funk, jive, turkey gobblers. That paints a pretty good picture."
  
  
• Smith -- "(My confidence) was in my closet. I found it."

Numbers you should know: 4. Dating back to 1950, the 49ers have had just four seasons in which they've allowed six points or fewer in four games. With the 24-3 win, they've done it in four of the last five games.

Injury update: 49ers -- G Daniel Kilgore left the game in the first quarter with a concussion.

Going forward: 49ers -- They're heading into the bye week with an undefeated record against the NFC West (2-0). After the week off, they'll return home for the third straight divisional game against St. Louis. Another Monday night game looms the following week against Chicago. Cardinals -- After starting the season 4-0, the wheels are coming off in Arizona. A trip to Lambeau Field to play Green Bay is up next, followed by the bye week and a road game at Atlanta. Four of their next five games are on the road.

Follow 49ers reporter Kyle Bonagura on Twitter @CBS49ers and @KyleBonagura.