Panthers Hold On: 16-13 Win Over Texans Seals 3-1 Record

A Narrow Margin Decides the Outcome

Seventy-two thousand, forty-one fans witnessed a tightly contested contest as the Carolina Panthers defeated the visiting Houston Texans 16-13 on Friday, August 28, 2026. The home squad improved its record to 3-1, while the Texans dropped to 0-3 in this matchup held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

The game featured a back-and-forth exchange of field goals that kept the score within striking distance until the final drive of the fourth quarter.

Scoring Sequence and Key Drives

The first quarter ended scoreless, setting the stage for a second-quarter shootout. Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a 38-yard field goal to give Houston a 3-0 lead, but Ryan Fitzgerald responded with a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3. Fitzgerald added a 37-yard field goal just before halftime to put Carolina ahead 6-3.

In the third quarter, Fitzgerald extended the lead with a 28-yard field goal, making it 9-3. Fairbairn narrowed the gap with a 47-yard kick, bringing the score to 9-6 heading into the final period.

Decisive Fourth-Quarter Plays

The fourth quarter produced the game’s only touchdowns. Miles Davis rushed one yard for a touchdown, with Ryan Fitzgerald’s kick making the score 16-6. Houston answered late in the quarter when Brett Rypien found Zay Jones for a six-yard touchdown pass, with Ka'imi Fairbairn’s kick bringing the final margin to three points. The Panthers held off the final drive to secure the win.

Statistical Highlights

Kyle Trask led the Panthers with 147 passing yards on 19 of 28 attempts, though he threw one interception. Anthony Tyus III carried the ball 10 times for 41 yards, while Ja'seem Reed caught two passes for 37 yards. For Houston, Brett Rypien completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

Deuce Vaughn rushed for 36 yards on 12 carries, and Josh Kelly caught three passes for 36 yards. The final quarter scores were 0-0, 3-6, 3-3, and 7-7 in favor of the respective teams' final tallies.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401873307