A Late Rally Falls Short
The Houston Texans found themselves trailing by three points entering the final period of their preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers. Despite mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter, the visiting squad could not overcome Carolina’s consistent kicking game and defensive stands to secure a 16-13 victory at Bank of America Stadium.
Houston entered Friday night’s contest with an 0-2 record and faced a tough challenge against the 2-1 Panthers. The game remained tightly contested through the first half, defined by field goal exchanges rather than explosive offensive plays. Ka’imi Fairbairn opened the scoring for Houston in the second quarter with a 38-yard field goal, giving the Texans a brief 3-0 lead.
However, Carolina responded almost immediately as Ryan Fitzgerald connected on a 30-yard kick to tie the game at 3-3.
Panthers Seize Control
Carolina began to pull away slightly late in the second quarter when Fitzgerald added another successful field goal, this time from 37 yards out, pushing the lead to 6-3. The Panthers extended their advantage early in the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal by Fitzgerald, making it 9-3.
Houston answered back before halftime with Fairbairn drilling a 47-yard kick, bringing the score to 9-6 at the break.
The second half saw Carolina maintain its composure while Houston pushed hard for parity. In the fourth quarter, Miles Davis scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown, and Fitzgerald’s extra point gave the Panthers a commanding 16-6 lead with just minutes remaining in regulation.
