Tony Jefferson had himself a game Sunday. The safety lead the Cardinals with 10 tackles, he had the huge second-down sack of Colin Kaepernick on the 49ers' last true chance to score and, of course, he absorbed the headbutt that changed the game.

Former Cardinal Anquan Boldin, who has been known to let his emotions get away from him on the field, got angry at Jefferson after catching a pass for a first down on the Cardinals' 6-yard line with the Cards nursing a 20-14 lead. Boldin headbutted Jefferson, and the 15 yards eventually derailed the drive into a field goal attempt that was blocked by Cardinals' defensive end Tommy Kelly. The 49ers never did score again.

"People give him (Boldin) so much respect out on the field, and I respect him as a player, but anybody who is going to jaw at me, I'm going to jaw back," Jefferson said. "I'm all about the action. I'll jaw. But I won't retaliate like he did."

But the play was more than that for the Cardinals. Boldin ranted after the game Jefferson had been delivering cheap blows and he was simply fed up. After the game, however, the Cardinals were talking about finally standing up to bully in the 49ers that had knocked them around in recent years.

"I think they are kind of used to us backing down once the game gets started," Jefferson said. "But we were in their face. We were going after it. We let them know, this is a different team."

It seems like a different team. It's definitely an undefeated team, and one that has earned that distinction.

-- It was a big deal winning Sunday, not the least of which was with Drew Stanton behind center. Bruce Arians kept saying Stanton could get the job done, but he (rightfully) said Stanton had to show everyone else. He has. Stanton managed the game in New York. He won the game against the 49ers. B.A. clearly didn't pull back the reins.

Stanton had a great press conference. He was happy, as he should be, and knows how to be funny. Someone asked him why he clicks with Arians. Stanton said he wasn't sure. "To be honest with you, in Indianapolis, I didn't even know if he liked me," Stanton said.

I don't think Drew needs to worry about that anymore.

• -That said, please don't ask about a quarterback controversy. There isn't one. When Palmer is ready, he'll be back in there.

-- As good as John "Smokey" Brown —and that's what the Cards call him, Smoke or Smokey — was on his TD catches, the pass interference he drew on the game-clinching field goal drive was just as big a play. Without that, the Cardinals are punting with more than three minutes left.

"Once I got past five yards, (I knew) if he got hands on me, it was an automatic pass interference," Brown said. "Drew made a great throw and (cornerback Chris Cook) did what I wanted him to do."

-- Brown said the gameplan all week was to feature him, thinking the 49ers would focus on Fitz and Floyd. Brown was asked, was that because the 49ers don't really know who you are? Brown smiled. "No one knows me."

-- Stanton became the first Cardinals' QB to not throw an interception and not be sacked since 2010. So once again, Stanton has a link back to 2010.

-- You can't go sackless, especially with as many deep throws as the Cardinals tried, without very good pass protection. Yes, the Niners are without guys like Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman, but this upgraded line is doing very well (including that parting of the Red Sea to spring Andre Ellington for that last 20-yard gain.)

-- The Palmer/Stanton quarterbacked-Cards have yet to throw an interception this season.

-- Amazing. On Tommy Kelly's blocked field goal for the Cards, the Cardinals only had nine men on the field.

-- It was with a lot less in-game attention as the Cardinals rallied, but Larry Fitzgerald didn't get his first catch Sunday until the fourth quarter again. Then it looked like he'd be the key factor in the game-clinching drive — and then he fumbled the ball at the San Francisco 5. It was shades of last year's lost fumble in San Francisco that short-circuited a possible go-ahead drive. This time, the Cardinals weathered the turnover. I'm not sure Fitz talked to anyone after — I know I didn't get a chance to see him — but I'm sure he breathed a sigh of relief the turnover turned out not to matter.

-- Michael Floyd, two long (39 and 45 yards) catches among his 5-for-114 day. That's two 100-yard games in three weeks.

-- Is there a better defensive coordinator in the league at making halftime adjustments than Todd Bowles?

-- I'm not sure how the defense went from being unsure how to handle Colin Kaepernick to shutting him down. This defense just keeps making it work. Losing Antonio Cromartie with a knee injury could have been a blow, but Bowles was already going to use Justin Bethel in this game. That's foresight. I thought Patrick Peterson played pretty well too. The Cards started getting to Kaepernick with pressure, but the coverage was a big part of that.

So the Cards head into the bye. A short week of practice, needed time off and a 3-0 record. Can't complain.