Panthers get first win, overcome Texans on late FG

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.

Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the overall first-round 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, then converted on fourth-and-2 with a 3-yard pass play from Young to Adam Thielen with just over three minutes to play.

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. Thielen finished with eight catches for 72 yards.

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 on downs.

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