The Carolina Panthers travel to Houston for a Week 3 Thursday Night match-up with the Texans. The Panthers enter the game with a 2-0 record after defeating New Orleans in Week 2 by a score of 26-7. This is the first time since 2017 that Carolina has started a season with back-to-back wins.
Houston fell to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday by a score of 31-21, bringing its record to 1-1. The Panthers have only faced Houston five times prior to this week, the fewest number of match-ups against any other NFL team in club history. The two teams last met in Week 4 of the 2019 season and Carolina won the game 16-10.
The Numbers
About the Panthers
- Through two weeks of play, the Panthers have caused consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Carolina leads the league with 10 sacks this season, the second most in franchise history through the first two games of a season (12 in 1998).
- Carolina has 8 players who have contributed in the sack column, the most in the NFL. The Panthers also lead the league with 19 hits on opposing quarterbacks, a franchise record through the first two weeks of any season.
- Carolina has played 12 games on Thursdays in its history. The Panthers are 3-9 in those games. The only Thursday game that was not a nighttime kickoff (7 pm or later) was the Panthers Thanksgiving game at Dallas in 2015.
- The Panthers are 14-25 in 39 regular season prime time games (7 pm kickoff or later). Carolina played two night games last year and fell to Atlanta 25-17 in Week 8 (Thur. 10/29/20) and Green Bay 24-16 in Week 15 (Sat. 12/19/20).
- The Panthers have only played one prime time game against an AFC South opponent. They defeated the Indianapolis Colts 29-26 in Week 8 of 2015 (11/2/15).
- QB Sam Darnold had 305 pass yards & 2 TDs vs. INT for 99.1 rating in Week 2. Aims for his 3rd in row with 275+ pass yards & 95+ rating. Passed for 253 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 100 rating in only career start vs. Hou. (12/15/18 w/ NYJ).
- RB Christian McCaffrey had 137 scrimmage yards (72 rush, 65 rec.) & rush TD in Week 2. Leads NFL with 324 scrimmage yards & all RBs in catches (14) in 2021. Had 10 receptions, 179 scrimmage yards (93 rush, 86 rec) & rush TD in last meeting. Has 255 scrimmage yards (85 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rec., 1 rush) in 3 career TNF games.
- WR DJ Moore had team-high 8 receptions for 79 yards & TD catch last week. Has 90+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 vs. AFC South. WR ROBBY ANDERSON had 7 catches for 96 yards & rec. TD in only career game vs. Hou. (12/15/18 w/ NYJ). Had 5+ catches in 6 of 8 road games last season. WR Brandon Zylstra had 1st-career TD catch in Week 2. TE Dan Arnold had 55 rec. yards last week.
- LB Shaq Thompson had 12 tackles & sack in last meeting. LB Haason Reddick had 1.5 sacks in Week 2 & aims for his 3rd in row with 1.5+ sacks. DE Brian Burns had sack last week. Has
sack in 6 of his past 7 on road. Aims for his 5th in row with sack. Has 2.5 sacks, FF & FR-TD in 4 career games vs. AFC South. S Jeremy Chinn had 6+ tackles in all 7 of his road games last season. Rookie CB Jaycee Horn had 1st-career INT last week. CB Juston Burris had 6th-career INT in Week 2.
About the Texans
- In Week 2, Houston traveled to Cleveland for the team’s first road contest of the season, falling to the Browns by a score of 31-21. Rookie QB Davis Mills saw the first game action of his NFL career, entering in the second half to replace injured QB Tyrod Taylor. Mills finished the contest 8-of-18 for 102 yards and threw a touchdown pass to WR Brandin Cooks, the first of his NFL career.
- Entering Week 3, the Texans defense has recorded five takeaways, tied for second in the NFL after two games. DB Justin Reid recorded an interception in each of Houston’s first two games and a forced fumble in the first quarter against the Browns. Reid’s two interceptions through Week 2 rank tied for first in the NFL.
- QB Davis Mills expected to make 1st NFL start. Passed for 102 yards & TD vs. INT last week in NFL debut. Selected in 3rd round (67th overall) in 2021 NFL Draft out of Stanford.
- RB Mark Ingram had 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) in his last game on TNF (12/12/19 vs. NYJ, w/Bal.). Leads all active RBs in rush yards (7,450) & rush TDs (63).
- RB David Johnson had TD catch in his last game vs. Car. (9/22/19 w/ Az.). Has TD in 5 of his past 6 vs. NFC South. Has 487 scrimmage yards (121.8 per game) & 3 rush TDs in 4 career games on TNF. RB Phillip Lindsay had 1st TD catch of season last week. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (Cordarrelle Patterson) with rush TD & rec. TD this season.
- WR Brandin Cooks had 9 catches for 78 yards & TD in Week 2. Aims for 4th in row with 75+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 3 of past 4.
- WR Danny Amendola has rec. TD in 2 of 3 career games vs. Car. Has 75+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 on TNF.
- LB Zach Cunningham had 6 tackles last week & leads NFL with 176 tackles since 2020. Had 14 tackles & TFL in last meeting.
- LB Christian Kirksey had 6 tackles, TFL & FR in Week 2. Is 1 of 3 in NFL (Jourdan Lewis & Xavien Howard) with INT & FR this season. Has PD in 2 of 3 career games on TNF.
- LB Kamu Grugier-Hill led team with career-high 9 tackles & had 1st sack & FF of season last week. LB Jacob Martin had 1st sack of season in Week 2. Aims for his 4th in row on TNF with TFL.
- S Justin Reid had INT & FF last week. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (Trevon Diggs) with INT in each of 1st 2 weeks of season.
Connections
- Panthers linebacker Clay Johnston is a native of Abilene, Texas and played his college years at Baylor.
- Panthers center Sam Tecklenburg is a native of Plano, Texas and played his college years at Baylor.
- Panthers defensive tackle Bravvion Roy is a native of Spring, Texas and played his college years at Baylor.
- Texans wide receiver Andre Roberts is a native of Columbia, S.C. and attended Spring Valley High School. Roberts spent his college years playing for The Citadel Bulldogs from 2006-09.
- Texans linebacker Joe Thomas is a native of Blackville, S.C. and attended Blackville-Hilda HS. Thomas played his college years at South Carolina State from 2010-13.
- Texans offensive lineman Charlie Heck played his college years at the University of North Carolina from 2016-19.
- Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson played his collegiate years at Clemson University from 2014-16.
Panthers vs Texans
Regular Season Series: 5 total matchups | Carolina leads the series 3-2
Last Regular Season Game: 9/29/19 | Carolina 16 @ Houston 10
Current Streak: Carolina has won the last three matchups
Series Record at this Weeks’s Venue: Carolina is 2-1 in games at Houston
How to Watch
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET NFLN: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink (field reporters)
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WBT-AM 1110 AM in Charlotte market; On The Call: Mick Mixon, Jake Delhomme, Jim Szoke, Kristen Balboni