Alex Smith's Career Game Is Just That: One Game

Take a gander at the Week 14 leaderboard for QB rating and you'll find the usual luminaries.

Washington's Donovan McNabb (22 of 35, 228 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions) was eighth, putting up a 100.7 rating in a losing effort against Tampa Bay, done in by a pair of short missed field goals by kicker Graham Gano and a botched extra point that would've sent the game into overtime.

McNabb's counterpart, Josh Freeman (15 of 25, 266 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions), was one notch above him and finished the day with a 109.8 rating while keeping the Buccaneers alive for a Wild Card berth. His growth in only his second season has been remarkable.

Speaking of remarkable, Tom Brady's MVP campaign keeps chugging along. He conquered a blizzard up in Chicago and the white stuff couldn't contain his brilliance (27 of 40, 369 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions) anymore than the Bears defense could. His 113.4 rating for the day placed him sixth.

Philip Rivers (18 of 24, 226 yards, two touchdowns, one interception) wasn't playing fair against Kansas City—Matt Cassel's appendectomy forced the Chiefs to start Brodie Croyle—but it's doubtful that even having Cassel available would've made a difference in San Diego's 31-0 romp. Rivers did most of his damage in the first half and his 114.2 rating was good for fourth.

Peyton Manning (25 of 35, 319 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions) put up a good number early with his Thursday effort at Tennessee and sat back in the clubhouse daring anyone to better it. It was a welcome rebound for the Colts legend who had thrown 11 interceptions the past three games. As it turned out, his 118.6 rating was only good for third.

And lo and behold, would you believe, our very own Alex Smith (17 of 27, 255 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions) was the fairest prince of them all?

His 130.9 rating, accomplished mostly in the first 28 minutes against the Seahawks, not only led NFL QBs for the week, but was also a career-best for Smith, easily besting the 120.5 figure he recorded on Oct. 6, 2006 against the Raiders in a 34-20 win.

Smith had a number of eye-opening completions. These include: a third-and-ten completion in the right flat to Vernon Davis (that went for 22 yards and set up a touchdown on the opening drive), a slant he hit Josh Morgan with two series later on third-and-seven that would lead to a go-ahead field goal and a lead the 49ers would never relinquish, a 15 yard scoring pass to Morgan again on third and eight to capitalize on the defense's second consecutive turnover and his adjustment to an all out Seahawks blitz on third and four where his quick slant to Brian Westbrook put the game away.

Smith actually looked like a fellow who was drafted to be a franchise quarterback. And this time, we didn't even have to squint hard.

Of course he's teased us before. Plenty of times, in fact.

There was that second half last season in Houston, where he threw three second half touchdown passes after relieving starter Shaun Hill in a 24-21 loss.

There was his fourth quarter a few weeks later at Green Bay, another spirited comeback that fell just short.

There was his two minute drive down 22-14 to the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints, where Smith used his arm and legs to march the team down the field in just 52 seconds before tying the game up on a two-point conversion to Davis.  

And most recently, there was his response to a near-benching against the Eagles, where Smith answered head coach Mike Singletary's challenge by throwing touchdown passes on consecutive drives in a game the Niners would ultimately lose 27-24.

Indeed, most of Smith's best efforts have come in lost causes and losing has very much been the theme of his 49ers career. Even after yesterday's win he's only 2-6 as a starter this season (backup Troy Smith is 3-2) and 18-30 overall.

There's a reason Singletary has pigeonholed Smith into the "game manager" box. He very much wants Smith to go unnoticed, like a good referee. You don't have to be the reason we win, just don't be the reason we lose.

Until yesterday, the most yards Smith had ever thrown for in a 49ers win was 233, against the Rams on Sept. 17, 2006 when the 49ers prevailed 20-13.

So yes, Smith's performance yesterday does need to be taken with a mountain of salt, especially considering that even after the game, his rating for the season—80.6—is lower than last season's 81.5, which has been his high water mark so far.

It's also perfectly in tune with Smith's career that even when he does something well, you're not sure if it's ultimately a product of skill or luck.

Consider that 201 of his 255 passing yards came after the catch, the highest figure the 49ers have had since accumulating 208 YAC yards against the Falcons in 2001.

Should this stat invoke comparisons to Joe Montana, forcing us to laud Smith for his ability to read the defense and lead his receivers, or should it be a criticism of his conservative nature because his furthest pass traveled all of 13 yards beyond the line of scrimmage?

Troy Smith had no problem airing it out during his starts, and it's hard to imagine him dinking and dunking his way through any game.

Also, it should be noted that Smith has never been known for his accuracy. He had several passes against the Seahawks that either sailed on him or were to his intended target's back shoulder. They were catchable balls for the most part, but not great throws. Neither Michael Crabtree nor Ted Ginn were of any help to him in those instances.

Has Smith grown up? Has he matured? Is he ever so slowly becoming the quarterback we've all wondered he could be?

Impossible to say but probably not.

All we know for sure is he hasn't turned the ball over in any of his last three starts (though the last one before this was on Oct. 24, and he played about a half in that game before separating his non-throwing shoulder) and he has definitely looked more assured and confident all season, regardless of whether or not it translated to his play on the field.

Quite frankly, Smith has had an air about him that's come off like, "I know who I am, I know what I can do and I don't really care if Singletary understands it or not because he's clearly in over his head and eventually I'll hook up with a coach who knows what he's doing."

He's never said those words, of course, but he's shown all year that he's far more comfortable being Alex Smith than you are in him being Alex Smith.

Winning games against the NFC West isn't going to impress anyone. Beat Rivers in San Diego (in a game where I doubt the defense will come up with five turnovers like they did against Seattle) on Thursday and we'll talk. Make like the '08 Chargers and turn a 4-8 record into 8-8 and a division title and we'll have a story.

Heck, there's a small chance that Smith could lead the 49ers into the postseason while Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are on the outside looking in. Now wouldn't that be something?

Right now, let's not get too carried away with that 130.9 QB rating. Oakland's Jason Campbell was second with 127.6, and the Raiders didn't even win.