Panthers Hold Off Late Texans Surge
The Carolina Panthers secured a 16-13 victory over the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium on Friday, August 28, 2026. In a tightly contested preseason matchup that drew a crowd of 72,041, the home side managed to hold off a late-game offensive push from Houston. The result improves Carolina’s record to 3-1, while the Texans see their season start slide to 0-3.
The game featured a high number of special teams points, with six field goals determining much of the early scoring before the fourth quarter brought the only touchdowns of the contest.
Special Teams Dominate Early Minutes
The first quarter ended scoreless, setting the stage for a kicking duel. Houston struck first in the second quarter when Ka’imi Fairbairn connected on a 38-yard field goal, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead. The Panthers responded quickly with Ryan Fitzgerald kicking a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
Fitzgerald then extended the lead with a 37-yard field goal, putting Carolina up 6-3 at the end of the half. The third quarter continued the trend of special teams dominance. Fitzgerald added another 28-yard field goal to make it 9-3, though Fairbairn narrowed the gap with a 47-yard kick, leaving the Panthers leading 9-6 entering the final period.
