End of 3: 49ers 24, Packers 6

SCORING PLAYS
49ERS — Joe Nedney 49-yard field goal, 8:24. Key play: The 49ers converted a pair of third downs, including a 27-yard reception by Josh Morgan on third-and-7 from their own 36.

PACKERS — Mason Crosby 49-yard field goal, 7:11. Key play: Jordy Nelson returned a short kickoff 56 yards to the 49ers’ 33.

49ERS — Moran Norris, 1-yard run (Ricky Schmitt kick), 2:56. Key play: A bad exchange between Junius Coston and Brian Brohm led to a fumble and the 49ers getting possession at the Packers’ 16. A pass interference call against Jarrett Bush on fourth-and-2 kept the drive alive.

NEWS, NOTES AND ANALYSIS
* If Packers coach Mike McCarthy was tempted to give Aaron Rodgers a shot to end on a high note, he resisted. Brian Brohm will start the second half. He finished a decent 9-for-16 for 58 yards, but the four sacks — and only three points, which were the product of a drive that went backwards after a Charles Woodson interception deep in 49ers territory — are the reason this will go down as a poor night for him and the entire starting offense.

* Brandon Jackson and Nelson continue to work as the second kick return pairing behind Will Blackmon and Tramon Williams.

* The No. 2 offensive line that opened the second half in front of Brohm was (left to right): Daryn Colledge, Allen Barbre, Junius Coston, Josh Sitton and Tony Moll. No Breno Giacomini.

* Brian Brohm didn’t throw a pick on his first attempt this week — but almost did on his second. He missed badly on an out (thrown in) for Jake Allen, who stripped Donald Strickland as Strickland tried to reel it in.

* Former No. 1 pick Alex Smith took over for J.T. O’Sullivan to start the second half. On his fourth play, Smith had a chance for a 67-yard touchdown for Morgan, who had burned (surprise!) Bush, but the ball was underthrown. Two plays later, Smith hit Morgan for a 27-yard completion on third-and-7 — with Bush in coverage, helping set up Nedney’s field goal.

* Nelson provided the Packers’ biggest highlight with that tackle-breaking, 56-yard kick return. He had a big punt return on Monday. Plays like that will earn the rookie more and more opportunities in the return game. He still hasn’t been any sort of factor on offense, though.

* Coston cannot play center. Period. And not just because he snapped when Brohm wasn’t looking for it, causing a fumble that gave the 49ers the ball at the Packers 16. Coston hasn’t looked good there at all during camp. The Packers have to take a look at him for emergency situations, but the experiment has not gone well.

* Tack on a defensive pass interference call against Bush, who mauled Cam Colvin on a jump ball route. McCarthy didn’t like the call, but it appeared Bush didn’t get his head around. One of those nights for Bush. And to think those two special-teams penalties seemed bad early on …

* When Noah Herron broke loose for 14 yards, it was by far the longest run for the Packers. Herron also had one for 6 yards; the next longest was Brandon Jackson with a 4-yarder. It’s going to be an interesting decision between Herron and Morency as the No. 3 running back. At this point, I’d give Morency the edge.

— Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com