All afternoon Alex Smith threw crisp passes. The defense of the 49ers forced fumbles and hassled the quarterback. Finally San Francisco was able to produce the type of error free performance on both offense and defense that coach Mike Singletary had been wanting to see out of his team.

In Smith’s best game so far this season, he threw short touchdown passes over to Vernon Davis and Frank Gore. It was a sound game for the 49ers all around on Sunday as they defeated the Jaguars 20-3.

The 49ers began the season planning to be defined by their running game, but with Smith behind the center they are starting to open things up. Five receivers had at least four catches.

Smith said, it’s the growth of our offense. You need to be balanced in the NFL. You need to have different ways to win.

Joe Nedney booted field goals from 27 and 46 yards for San Francisco (5-6) who snapped Jacksonville’s three game winning streak. They also spoiled the homecoming to the Bay Area for Jack Del Rio, Jaguars coach, and Maurice Jones-Drew, running back.

The loss by Jacksonville clinched the title of the AFC South for undefeated Indianapolis, who earlier on Sunday rallied to defeat Houston on the road.

Jones-Drew, who was a prep star for De La Salle High School over on the opposite side of the San Francisco Bay, rush for 75 yards. It’s the first time he has rushed for 1,000 yards in a season in his career. Jones-Drew is also only the second player for the Jacksonville franchise to do so, joining the seven efforts of Fred Taylor. However, his five game streak of scoring a running touchdown was snapped.

The defense of the 49ers recovered two fumbles off of sacks in the second half, including an early fourth quarter hit by Parys Haralson on David Garrard for a loss of 20 yards.

Smith passed for 232 yards and had no sacks or interceptions. It was the best game for Smith since he took over in late October as San Francisco’s starting quarterback. Gore caught seven passes, Davis and Josh Morgan each had six, and Michael Crabtree and Delanie Walker had four each.

Mike Singletary said, this week the very best thing I saw happen was leadership on offense. In terms of players saying, coach I think this will work. I think this is what we need to do. What about doing this or can we do the spread more? Put it on us receivers.

Singletary credited Smith, Davis and even the rookie Crabtree, their top pick in this year’s draft, for offering input.

A field goal of 32 yards was kicked by Josh Scobee for Jacksonville (6-5), but he also missed a 40 yard attempt wide to the left early second quarter as well as a 21 yarder during the fourth quarter that hit the upright on the left. Afterward he had a disgusted look on his face. His second field goal miss tied for the shortest miss this season in the NFL. Lawrence Tynes of the Giants also missed an attempt from 21 yards during Week 3 versus the Buccaneers.

Scobee said, missing that short one is just totally unacceptable, simple and plain. For that I take full responsibility. I’m a professional after all.

Why does Jacksonville have all of these woes on the West Coast? On October 11, the Jaguars lost in Seattle 41-0. On Sunday they were never a threat. It was the second time, the first coming in 2004, in the history of the franchise that the Jaguars have played two games on the road out West.

Garrard was able to complete six out of the first seven passes he threw, but didn’t have much to show for it. During the first half, the Jaguars only managed to get six first downs. They did out gain San Francisco 357 yards to 284 yards. Torry Holt had a reception for his 164th game in a row. He passed Andre Reed and moved up to 10th place on career yards receiving with 13,226.

The victory for San Francisco was the type of methodical win that coach Singletary has insisted that his team is capable of producing.

Since their promising 3-1 start, the 49ers had lost five of their last six games. The last four losses have been by seven points or less. Singletary and the 49er players admit that they have beaten themselves regularly.

All during the week we emphasized that, not to beat ourselves, said Haralson.

During the first half, Smith threw the ball 29 times. It was his career high for one half. The most he had had was 18 attempts. Singletary was happy with Smith’s heads up, sound decision making.

On third down and 10 at the 36 yard line mid second quarter, Smith connected on a pass play of 27 yards with Crabtree, moving San Francisco for the very first time into the red zone.

Then Morgan caught a 6 yard pass, setting up a touchdown catch of 3 yards by Davis two plays later. For the 49ers tight end it was his ninth touchdown reception of the season.

Smith faked to the right and then turned to the left. He found Davis wide open in the end zone’s left corner.

Late first half Davis had a catch of 30 yards on fourth down and one as well.