CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eddy Piñeiro nailed a 23-yard field goal as time expired to give the Carolina Panthers their first win of the 2023 season.
The kick gave the Panthers a 15-13 win over the Houston Texans in a battle between the top two quarterbacks chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.
Piñeiro's field goal was redemption for him as he missed an early extra point that would have made the game tied late. The kick was delayed twice because of penalties on Houston that put the field goal in chip shot territory.
It's the first win for the Panthers after their worst start since 1998. The win improves Carolina to 1-6.
Houston got on the scoreboard first with a goal line touchdown run from Andrew Beck.
The Panthers made it all the way down to the Texans' 1-yard-line on the next drive but were unable to reach the end zone. Carolina went for it on fourth down but Young's pass for Adam Thielen fell incomplete.
The next drive would provide a better result for the Panthers, though. Young led the Panthers into Houston territory and eventually found Tommy Tremble for a 1-yard passing touchdown. Eddy Piñeiro would miss the extra point, leaving Houston with a 7-6 lead at halftime.
Piñeiro made a field goal on the first drive of the second half to give Carolina their first lead of the game. The Panthers defense forced Beck to fumble on the ensuing drive, resulting in the game's first turnover.
Another field goal from Piñeiro gave the Panthers a 12-7 advantage in the third quarter.
Stroud found the end zone later to give the Texans the lead. Houston missed a two-point conversion attempt, leaving the lead 13-12.
The teams traded punts twice before the Panthers got the ball with six minutes remaining. Young orchestrated a drive that took the Panthers from their own 9-yard-line all the way into Houston territory as they took all of the time off the clock. The drive included a clutch fourth down conversion and notably no sacks.
Young placed the Panthers in position for a 38-yard field goal but an unnecessary roughness penalty and offsides from the Texans led to the kick only being 23 yards.