CHARLOTTE — For the third straight week—and fifth time this season—the Panthers defense gave up over 200 yards on the ground. It's the same story, different day, for a team that has been looking for answers in that area all season.

Well, actually, they have the answers. It's the execution that has been lacking.

"I mean, that's just want to, like a mindset," offered an exasperated Jaycee Horn as to why the run defense gave up 211 yards on the ground Sunday, in a 30-14 loss to the Cowboys. "It ain't really nothing. We've been saying the same stuff since we were kids: hit, wrap, lift, drive. That's what we got to do. Just tackle better. Get to the ball."

Horn had two tackles and a sack against Cooper Rush and broke up a pass. Linebacker Josey Jewell led all tacklers with 10 total. None of it was enough though, as Rico Dowdle put up 149 yards on 25 carries by himself.

"You can't get tired of basic stuff, tackling right into the ball," Horn continued. "I feel like we didn't do that, we didn't play with enough effort—or I wouldn't say effort—just like technique and making tackles and Rico a good back. So, he exploited all that."

Linebacker D.J. Wonnum, who finished with three tackles and a pass defensed, echoed Horn, "We couldn't stop the run, we couldn't do the little things that we should have done, and it comes down to want to and we just didn't have it."

The want to, while heady, is abstract. When the Panthers go back to the film on Monday to watch for what allowed the Cowboys to average 5.3 yards per pop, Dave Canales wants guys to find the specifics, both in how the play broke down and how to keep it from happening again.

"We just got to go right off the film and just look at the fundamentals of the call," Canales said. "Where people are supposed to be getting guys down, keeping them from getting those extra yards and all that. And so, we just got to return to the basics. That's really what we have, is to look at the film, here's the basics of how this call is supposed to be fit versus these styles or runs. And just continue to just ask the guys to press into that."

The Cowboys were also able to turn passing plays into run plays, swinging out to CeeDee Lamb on screens several times, picking up 50 yards on those plays alone. None more deadly than a 20-yard pickup in the second quarter that put Dallas near mid-field and moved a drive along that ended in a touchdown.

"Yeah, I mean, that's, it's a good play call, you know, sometimes they just catch us in the right defense," said Horn of the play. "I think it was like 3rd and (8), not ideal for them to put him backside and run screen right there. We didn't really see that on tape a lot. They called it, and it hit. That happens."

The tasks won't get any answer in the final three games. The Panthers have to face the Cardinals' James Conner and Kyler Murray, the latter of whom is averaging 7.7 yards per rush, Tampa Bay's Bucky Irving, who put up 152 yards and a touchdown in his last outing against Carolina, and the Falcons' Bijan Robinson, who has 977 yards and eight rushing touchdowns this season.

"At the end of the day, it come down to physicality," Wonnum said. "We got to want to stop the run."

Special teams penalties continue

The Panthers had only eight penalties for 65 yards — a pittance to the 14 for 99 yards Dallas gave back — but Canales acknowledged that the Panthers don't have the margin for error to absorb those kinds of hits.

Special teams captain Sam Franklin Jr. picked up another one late, a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty that's the latest in a series of special teams flags in recent weeks.

"Yeah, it's just something we've got to get out of our football," Canales said. "We're addressing it. We're talking to the guys; they play with a lot of passion and a lot of heart, you know. They're aggressive by nature, but we can't have the extra stuff.

"This game is too hard, the NFL is too hard to give the opponent any advantage, and you tack on 15 yards after a coverage or after a return, those things, they add up."

Career day for Jalen Coker

Rookie wideout Jalen Coker returned from a three-game absence because of a quadriceps injury and did it with style.

He posted a career-high four catches for 110 yards — most of it coming on an 83-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, the longest completion of Bryce Young's NFL career.

Coker got lost in a soft spot in the Dallas coverage, and he outraced the rest of them to the end zone.

"I just ran my route, was open, took my hand up, Bryce found me, and then I just kept running," Coker said. "I didn't want to get caught, but it was nothing crazy. It was just a bit of a broken coverage, and he sniffed it out and got me the ball in time."

This was the first time the undrafted rookie from Holy Cross has been on the field at the same time as another undrafted rookie — Adam Thielen, who had five catches for 51 yards.

"I think having as many pass catchers and playmakers out there at one time is good," Coker said. "It doesn't matter who that is, whether that is me, David Moore, or Deven Thompkins; it doesn't matter who it is. I feel like any of the guys we put out there are able to make plays."

Differing views on Xavier Woods' big hit

Many had a problem with the personal foul call on safety Xavier Woods for a hard shot on CeeDee Lamb in the first half (including Fox analyst Greg Olsen), and Canales said he thought it was a legal hit.

"They explained it as a hit on the defenseless receiver," Canales said. "And I know we were fighting, we were fighting like crazy to say it wasn't to his head or neck area. That's kind of what they saw, so that's what they flagged.

"I mean, it was a really hard hit, you know, but again, it's at the official's discretion."

Injury updates

Wide receiver Xavier Legette left the game with a groin injury in the second half and didn't return.

Canales said they were still waiting on more tests on his condition.

Linebacker Claudin Cherelus had a foot issue in the first half but returned to play in the second half. That was needed since they were without rookie starter Trevin Wallace and were thin enough that special teamer Jon Rhattigan had to play his first snap of defense this season.