Decisive Finish
The Carolina Panthers secured a narrow 16-13 victory over the visiting Houston Texans on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The outcome was largely determined by the final period, where Carolina’s offense capitalized on sustained drives while their special teams unit maintained pressure throughout the contest.
Scoring Breakdown
The game remained tightly contested through the first half, with field goals dictating the momentum. Houston took an early 3-0 lead in the second quarter when Ka'imi Fairbairn connected on a 38-yard field goal. Carolina responded immediately, as Ryan Fitzgerald tied the game at 3-3 with a 30-yard kick, before taking a 6-3 advantage just minutes later with a 37-yard field goal.
The third quarter saw both teams trade three-pointers. Fitzgerald extended Carolina’s lead to 9-3 with a 28-yard field goal. However, Fairbairn answered with a 47-yard kick to bring Houston within three points at the break, making the score 9-6 in favor of the Panthers.
The fourth quarter provided the decisive drama. Miles Davis broke the deadlock for Carolina, rushing for a 1-yard touchdown that was followed by Fitzgerald’s kick, pushing the Panthers ahead 16-6. The Texans mounted a late rally led by quarterback Brett Rypien, who connected with Zay Jones on a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Fairbairn’s extra point trimmed the deficit to 16-13, but Carolina held on for the win.
