A Narrow Victory for Carolina
The Carolina Panthers defeated the Houston Texans 16-13 on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The result improves the Panthers to a 3-1 record, while the Texans drop to 0-3.
The game was decided by a late touchdown run from Miles Davis, who carried the ball one yard into the end zone to give Carolina the lead with time remaining in the fourth quarter. The contest was tight throughout, with neither team scoring in the first quarter and the lead changing hands multiple times in the second half.
Field Goals Set the Stage
The first points of the game came in the second quarter when Houston’s Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Texans a 3-0 lead. Carolina responded quickly as Ryan Fitzgerald connected on a 30-yard field goal to tie the score at 3-3. Fitzgerald then extended the Panthers' lead to 6-3 with a 37-yard kick before the halftime break.
The third quarter saw the field goal battle continue, with Fitzgerald adding a 28-yard kick to push the score to 9-3 in Carolina's favor. Fairbairn answered with a 47-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 9-6 before the final period began.
