A Game Defined by the Boot
The Carolina Panthers concluded their preseason schedule with a narrow 16-13 victory over the visiting Houston Texans on Friday, August 28, 2026. The contest, played in front of 72,041 fans at Bank of America Stadium, was largely defined by special teams precision and late-game execution rather than offensive explosion.
The Panthers (3-1) held off a determined Texans squad (0-3) to improve their record, while Houston remained winless at 0-3. The game remained tightly contested throughout, with neither team able to establish a significant lead until the final quarter.
Special Teams Dominance
Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald was the architect of Carolina’s early advantage. He opened the scoring in the second period with a 38-yard field goal, giving the Panthers a 3-0 lead. Houston responded briefly before Fitzgerald struck again, connecting on a 30-yard attempt to tie the game at 3-3. He immediately regained the lead with a 37-yard field goal, pushing Carolina ahead 6-3 at halftime.
Fitzgerald extended his impact in the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal, increasing the Panthers' advantage to 9-3. The Texans’ kicker, Ka’imi Fairbairn, answered with a 47-yard field goal of his own, making the score 9-6 heading into the final period.
