CHARLOTTE -- Well, it's not all bad news for the Cowboys. They had won four of their past six season openers heading into Sunday. The two times they lost were the only two years they made the playoffs (2014, 2016).
Here are my thoughts on the Cowboys falling on the road to start the season, 16-8 to the Carolina Panthers:
1. The rust was obviously there in the first half and much of the third quarter. Many will point to how little this offensive unit played together in the preseason. A very good Carolina defense deserves some credit, too.