The Carolina Panthers held on to defeat the Houston Texans 16-13 on Friday night in the preseason finale for both teams.
Houston's last-ditch effort to take its first lead of the game - or at least tie it - ended when Jeremiah Moon sacked Rypien and forced a fumble, and Cam Gill recovered with 54 seconds left.
The Panthers limited the Texans to 173 yards while getting four sacks and two interceptions.
Both offensive coordinators were extremely conservative on offense, playing on a field that has been waterlogged by heavy rains in the hours leading up to the game.
Neither team played its starters.
Houston's Davis Mills and Carolina's Kenny Pickett started at quarterback, but neither could muster any points before being removed after about a quarter. Mills finished 3 of 7 for 18 yards with one interception, while Pickett was 5 of 8 for 48 yards.
Ryans: Texans have tough decisions at WR
Coach DeMeco Ryans said the Texans have some tough decisions to make at wide receiver on cutdown day after losing Jayden Higgins for the season and with Tank Dell still working his way back from a devastating knee injury.
"We needed to add to the receiver room, and we are still trying to find who will be those guys for us," Ryans said. "It won't be an easy decision because we have more guys deserving than we have spots for."
Aside from Nico Collins, Justin Watson and Xavier Hutchinson, the Texans have Jones, Sterling Shepard, Jaylin Noel, Jared Wayne and a host of rookies vying for spots.
Ryans said what complicates the decision is some receivers - such as Jones - only recently arrived and are still becoming familiar with the playbook, and they haven't had much time to evaluate them.
As for injuries, Texans defensive lineman Solomon Byrd was helped off the field after his neck snapped back while trying to tackle Panthers tight end James Mitchell in the fourth quarter.
The Houston Texans will face host Buffalo Bills on Sep. 13 in their season opener.
