Texens fall 0-3 after 13-16 loss in Charlotte preseason finale

Late Surge Falls Short

The Houston Texans concluded a difficult early season stretch with a 16-13 defeat to the Carolina Panthers on Friday, August 28, 2026. The loss dropped the Texans to 0-3 on the year, while the host Panthers improved to 3-1. The game was played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, in front of a crowd of 72,041.

The contest remained tight throughout, with the lead changing hands multiple times before the final whistle.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, setting the stage for a defensive battle. The second quarter saw the first points on the board when Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a 38-yard field goal for Houston, giving the Texans a 3-0 lead. Carolina responded quickly, with Ryan Fitzgerald connecting on a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.

Fitzgerald added another 37-yard field goal to put the Panthers ahead 6-3 at the half.

The third quarter continued the field goal duel. Ryan Fitzgerald extended Carolina’s lead with a 28-yard kick, making it 9-3. Fairbairn then struck back with a 47-yard field goal to narrow the deficit to 9-6.

The fourth quarter brought the decisive action, starting with Miles Davis rushing one yard for a touchdown, followed by a successful kick by Fitzgerald. This play brought the score to 16-6 in favor of Carolina.

Final Moments and Stats

Houston mounted a final drive, with quarterback Brett Rypien finding Zay Jones for a six-yard touchdown pass. Fairbairn’s subsequent kick made the final score 16-13. Despite the late score, the Texans could not overcome the deficit in the closing moments.

In the passing game, Brett Rypien completed 13 of 23 attempts for 101 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Deuce Vaughn carried the ball 12 times for 36 yards, while Josh Kelly led the receiving corps with three catches for 36 yards. For Carolina, Kyle Trask completed 19 of 28 passes for 147 yards with one interception.

Anthony Tyus III rushed for 41 yards on 10 carries, and Ja'seem Reed had two receptions for 37 yards. The game served as the preseason finale for both clubs, marking the end of their exhibition slate.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameId/401873307