Decisive Finish
Miles Davis provided the margin of victory with a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth period, securing a 16-13 win for the Carolina Panthers over the visiting Houston Texans on Friday. The result leaves Carolina at 3-1 and drops Houston to 0-3 as the regular season continues.
Scoring Breakdown
The game remained tightly contested through the first half, defined primarily by special teams execution. Ka'imi Fairbairn opened the scoring for Houston with a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter. The Panthers responded immediately, with Ryan Fitzgerald kicking three consecutive field goals of 30, 37, and 28 yards to take a 9-6 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw both kickers trade scores again. Fairbairn added a 47-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 9-6, but Fitzgerald extended Carolina's advantage with another successful kick, making it 12-9 at the end of the period. The Panthers' defense held firm until the final moments.
In the fourth quarter, Miles Davis broke the deadlock by rushing for a touchdown, which was followed by a kick from Fitzgerald to push the score to 16-6. Houston mounted a late rally, with Brett Rypien connecting with Zay Jones on a 6-yard pass. Fairbairn’s extra point made it 16-13, but the Texans could not recover the ensuing possession or find another score.
