Houston Texans vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats On Oct 29, 2023

Eddy Pineiro kicked a 23-yard field goal on the game's final play and the Carolina Panthers won for the first time under first-year coach Frank Reich, beating the visiting Houston Texans 15-13 on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.

Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the first overall draft pick, directed the decisive 15-play, 86-yard drive that used the final 6:17 of the game.

While the matchup involved the top two quarterbacks selected in this year's draft, the game was defined by defense.

Young finished 22-of-31 for 235 passing yards and a touchdown. Houston's C.J. Stroud was 16-of-24 for 140 yards and had a touchdown run.

The Panthers (1-6) became the last team in the NFL to win a game this season. Houston (3-4) lost for just the second time in its last five games.

The Panthers began their winning drive at their own 9-yard line. They overcame a second-and-19 situation following the sixth sack of Young in the game, converting on fourth-and-2 with a 3-yard pass play from Young to Adam Thielen with just over three minutes to play. Thielen finished with eight catches for 72 yards.

With the Texans trailing 12-7, Stroud scored on a 1-yard run with 35 seconds to play in the third quarter to lift Houston into the 13-12 lead. A two-point conversion attempt failed.

The Texans gained 110 rushing yards compared to Carolina's 44 yards on the ground.

The Texans took a 7-0 lead when Andrew Beck scored on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter. That capped a 17-play, 92-yard drive that included Houston converting all four third-down conversions.

The Panthers got on the board with Young's 5-yard pass play to Tommy Tremble with 1:35 left in the first half, although the extra-point kick failed. The score came on Carolina's first possession after it was stopped on three plays inside the Houston 5-yard line for a turnover on downs.

Pineiro kicked field goals from 46 and 37 yards in the third quarter.

--Field Level Media