A Winless Start Ends in Charlotte
The Houston Texans concluded their winless preseason campaign with a narrow 13-16 defeat to the Carolina Panthers on Friday at Bank of America Stadium. Despite a late scoring drive that narrowed the margin, Houston could not overcome a deficit established primarily through Carolina’s kicking game.
Field Goals Defined the Early Stages
The contest was largely a battle of placekickers in the first half. The Texans struck first when Ka'imi Fairbairn connected on a 38-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. However, Carolina responded with three consecutive successful kicks from Ryan Fitzgerald: a 30-yarder, a 37-yarder, and a 28-yarder in the second quarter. These three scores gave Carolina a 9-3 halftime advantage.
Fairbairn added another field goal late in the third quarter from 47 yards out, extending Houston’s lead to 6-9 before the fourth quarter. The Texans entered the final period trailing by three points, needing a touchdown to take control.
Late Touchdowns Provide Hope
Houston’s offense found its rhythm in the fourth quarter. Brett Rypien connected with Zay Jones on a 6-yard pass for a touchdown, and Fairbairn’s extra point brought the score to 13-16. The Texans had closed the gap significantly, but Carolina held on for the victory.
