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Late score lifts Denver Broncos to victory over Atlanta Falcons in Pro Football Hall of Fame Game

A catch of a deflected pass in the game's final minutes proved to be the difference for the Denver Broncos.

CANTON, Ohio — The National Football League’s 100th season officially got underway with the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio Thursday night.

Thanks to a late march down the field and a circus catch from Juwann Winfree off a deflection of a Brett Rypien 15-yard pass with 1:26 to play in regulation, the Denver Broncos posted a 14-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the kickoff to the NFL’s centennial season.

Originally, Denver converted a fourth-and-four late in regulation, but a holding penalty negated the gain, and it became a fourth-and-14.

Then, Winfree ran to the right sideline, stayed with the play off of a deflection from a Falcons defender, corralled the loose ball while still in the air and got both feet down in bounds for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.

The Broncos opened the scoring with an eight-play, 51-yard drive that running back Khalfani Muhammad capped off with a three-yard run into the end zone with 8:50 remaining in the first quarter of play.

Kicker Brandon McManus converted the point after touchdown and gave the Broncos a 7-0 lead, which they held until late in the second quarter.

With 21 seconds remaining before halftime, Falcons reserve quarterback Kurt Benkert found running back Brian Hill with a one-yard touchdown pass that finished off a brief six-play, 16-yard drive. Kicker Giorgio Tavecchio evened the score at 7-7 with the extra point.

Tavecchio, who missed a field goal in the first half, made good on his second opportunity and hit from 27 yards out to give the Falcons a 10-7 lead over the Broncos with 4:33 to play in the third quarter. Tavecchio’s 27-yarder capped off a 12-play, 56-yard drive that took more than five-and-a-half minutes off the third-quarter clock.

Broncos first-round pick Drew Lock made his NFL debut in relief of Kevin Hogan and completed seven of his 11 throws for 34 yards despite being sacked twice for 15 lost yards.

Muhammad had a team-best 50 yards and the one touchdown on just seven carries for the Broncos.

Benkert was Atlanta’s second quarterback into the game, and he completed 19 of his 34 throws for 185 yards and one touchdown. Benkert was sacked three times for 17 lost yards.

Hill led the Falcons with 57 yards on 11 carries with a long run of 19 yards.

Playing in his first game with the Falcons, Barberton, Ohio native John Cominsky registered a team-best six total tackles, including three solo stops, with one sack, one quarterback hit and a fumble recovery.

Cleveland St. Ignatius graduate Dre’Mont Jones had three tackles, all solo stops, with three quarterback hits in his Broncos debut.

The Falcons and Broncos both have representatives set to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night, as former Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez and the late Denver owner, Pat Bowlen, will be immortalized in Canton among the game’s greatest players and contributors.

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