NFL ROUNDUP : Renfroe Keys Rally, Falcons Win, 31-27

Free-agent Gilbert Renfroe threw three touchdown passes in the final 13 minutes, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 31-27 victory over the Washington Redskins in an exhibition opener Saturday night at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Renfroe, who bypassed the NFL and went to the Ottawa Roughriders of the Canadian Football League in 1986, rallied the Falcons from a 20-10 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter. He completed 10 of 15 passes for 144 yards.

In Canada, Renfroe played 59 games in four seasons and passed for 8,185 yards and 46 touchdowns.

After Washington’s Chip Lohmiller kicked a field goal, Renfroe drove Atlanta 78 yards, throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass to James Milling with 13:01 left, bringing Atlanta to within 20-17.

On Washington’s next possession, James Wilder fumbled and Elbert Shelley recovered. Renfroe completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Titus Dixon at 12:09 to give Atlanta a 24-20 lead.

Stan Humphries put the Redskins back into the lead, 27-24, with a 23-yard pass to Stephen Hobbs at 7:18.

Starting at their 20, the Falcons used nearly five minutes before Renfroe threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Milling with 2:56 left.

Denver 16, Indianapolis 7--The Bronco defense spoiled the NFL debut of Jeff George with three sacks and two interceptions at Indianapolis.

George, the quarterback from Illinois who was the first player taken in this year’s college draft, completed eight of 16 passes for 82 yards after entering the game in the second quarter. He lost 37 yards on the sacks and also fumbled twice.

David Treadwell kicked field goals of 18, 38 and 39 yards for the Broncos.

Cleveland 25, Green Bay 10--Jerry Kauric kicked four field goals and Van Waiters set up two scores with an interception and fumble recovery to help the Browns win at Green Bay, Wis.

Ellis Dillahunt intercepted a pass thrown by Green Bay’s Mike Norseth on the final play of the game and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown.

New York Jets 17, Philadelphia 6--Rookie quarterback Troy Taylor completed four passes in a 57-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown drive as the Jets rallied to win at Philadelphia.

Taylor, a fourth-round draft choice from California, threw a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mickey Shuler to give the Jets a 10-6 lead.

New Orleans 13, Minnesota 10--Rookie Mike Buck completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Scales with 8:01 to play, lifting the Saints past the Vikings at Minneapolis.

Buck is a sixth-round draft choice from Maine. On the winning drive, he threw a 17-yard, third-down pass to Craig Heyward. Four plays later, Buck threw his winning pass.

Tampa Bay 30, Cincinnati 17--Jeff Carlson came off the bench to pass for 208 yards and one touchdown and Steve Christie kicked three field goals to lead the Buccaneers at Tampa, Fla.

Carlson led the Buccaneers to scores on two of three second-quarter possessions to build a 17-10 halftime advantage, then directed three consecutive scoring drives to start the second half.

Chicago 10, Miami 6--Quarterback Jim Harbaugh’s first play of the game, a slant pass thrown to Neal Anderson, covered 68 yards for a touchdown with 22 seconds left in the first half and led the Bears to the victory at Chicago.

Seattle 34, Phoenix 9--Louis Clark and Patrick Hunter scored touchdowns 59 seconds apart in the second quarter and the Seahawks went on to beat the Cardinals at Tempe, Ariz.

San Diego 28, Dallas 16--Quarterback Mark Vlasic, playing for the first time in nearly two years, led two fourth-quarter scoring drives as the Chargers beat the Cowboys at San Diego.

Vlasic completed 11 of 13 passes for 135 yards in two quarters, his first action since suffering a knee injury in a November 1988 game against the Rams.