CHARLOTTE — Sometimes football games are complicated to describe.

And sometimes they're simple.

Sunday, a Panthers offense that had protected well and stayed ahead of the chains so they could run the ball did not. And a Cowboys defense, which still has one of the NFL's true game-wreckers, did.

"Yeah, it wasn't a great day for us," Panthers right guard Robert Hunt said quietly. "This is the NFL, man. You've got to come ready to play. If not, you get embarrassed.

"And, you know, I think they got the best of us."

There was more discussion and more explanation. But really, it was as simple as that.

The Panthers lost 30-14 to the Cowboys for a lot of reasons, but near the top of the list was their inability to protect quarterback Bryce Young the way they had to great effect recently.

After investing heavily in the offensive line this offseason, in both personnel and coaches, the Panthers had allowed just 22.0 sacks in the first 13 games and 6.0 sacks in the previous five games.

The Cowboys had 6.0 sacks Sunday, all in the second half, including a pair by Micah Parsons, and that's where Panthers head coach Dave Canales began his version of the explanation.

"Well, I think Michael Parsons is a special player," Canales said, and that's true. "He certainly got some wins out there. But I think it was really the mode, that when they put us in this mode where we're playing from behind, and we have to go for it, and we have to throw the ball and try to flip the field and try to get points, we play into the opponent's hands. In that regard, it allows (defensive coordinator Mike) Zimmer, with a really good pressure package. And then, just some good players up front.

"But certainly put us in a brand of football that we don't really want to play."

That happened from the start, which seemed so promising.

The Panthers forced Dallas to punt to start the game and embarked on a 13-play, 72-yard drive, which chewed up nearly eight and a half minutes of the game clock.

Chuba Hubbard had seven of the first 12 touches for 38 yards from scrimmage. He had 11 yards from scrimmage on just seven touches the rest of the game.

The Panthers finished with just 60 yards on 16 carries, only 2 yards ahead of their season-low in the opener at New Orleans.

And when Young fumbled on the 13th play of that first drive, it left them with no points on a trip to the red zone.

That's not the way they want to play or are designed to play at the moment. Or really, ever, in the personality Canales wants to create here. But after the Cowboys got a strip-sack-fumble on the first play of the second half and quickly turned it into a touchdown, the Panthers were down 17-7 and spent the rest of the day chasing.

"I guess when you're kind of in that two-minute mode, obviously, everyone kind of knows you've got to pass," left tackle Ikem Ekwonu said. "But I mean, that's not an excuse. At the end of the day, guys can come in here and say we're passing the ball 50 times. My job is to protect the quarterback.

"So, not an excuse you just got to own it. I mean, guys should be better. Got to be better up front. I feel that's all I've got to say about that."

There was more to say because Hunt made several references to "really sloppy" play throughout the day, which included a pair of false start penalties. He disputed the effect of Young's early fumble, which ended that first drive, saying there was so much game left.

"I don't think so. I think that we were very confident in what we could do," Hunt said. "That first drive is what I thought we should have done all game. But then, once you get out of that rhythm, it's hard. Once you get behind, you know, obviously, they can tee off.

"They got number 11 (Parsons) over there, who's a really good pass-rusher, and everybody knows what they do. They made the best of their opportunities."

Hunt was clearly displeased with his own game, particularly the penalties.

"Yeah, it's tough," he said. "I think that we can do a better job of communicating. We could do a better job locking in. Obviously, I had two of those. Some stuff is communicated, and then some stuff you've got to lock in, hone in. I own mine, didn't do a good job of honing in on those today. And yeah, those are the things that you really can't have, especially when you're trying to make it a game.

"I think it was a sloppy play all day. You know what I mean? A sloppy day."