HOUSTON (AP) — The Carolina Panthers are hoping their latest victory didn’t come at a heavy price.
The Panthers completed a 24-9 win over the Texans after losing Christian McCaffrey to an injury early in the second quarter. McCaffrey came in leading the league in scrimmage yards.
Everything else went well for the Panthers as they improved to 3-0 for the first time since their 2015 run to the NFC championship. Sam Darnold threw for 304 yards and ran for two touchdowns, putting the game away when he bulled in from 1-yard out to make it 24-9 with about four minutes left.
Carolina’s top-ranked defense put the squeeze on Houston rookie Davis Mills in his first career start, sacking him four times and holding him to 168 yards passing. Mills was pressed into action after Tyrod Taylor suffered a hamstring injury last Sunday and was placed on injured reserve.
