They had no idea where or when or how Houston did what they did. Roll outs and runs, catches and jogs into the end zone for six more points. Play after play. Touchdown after “is this really happening?” touchdown.

Just to be sure, let’s spell it out: the T-E-X-A-N-S hung 34 unanswered points on the Panthers.

About an hour after resignation set in early in the 3rd quarter, Carolina’s players tried to explain. Only nobody could. That’s when other team’s I’ve covered have gotten angry and pushy, but not Carolina. Honest Jake Delhomme looked the camera straight in the eye and said he had no idea. Steve Smith said the offense put the defense in awful positions. Rookie Ryan Kalil explained that he was the problem. Everyone was just as accountable in the locker room as they were awful on the field and that gives the Panthers a chance.

Kalil impressed me the most. This is a guy who knew nothing but overwhelming success at USC. Three years as a starter with 36 wins and only three losses, and on Sunday he got whipped for at least two sacks. He looked tentative and lost just like 99 percent of rookies do at some point.

Instead of ducking the media, Kalil sought us out, taking all comers and answering every question straight in the eye. Sure it goes a long way with the media, but it can do more for a team. This is a rookie who can play and a rookie who doesn’t duck criticism. A rookie who doesn’t point fingers and already stands up to take the good with the bad. It’s not easy to ask a 22-year-old why he was awful for one day, but Ryan Kalil was ready with answers.

I had to wonder if this might have been the first time in his life that the Panthers 2nd round draft choice had to face those kinds of questions. His response was better than you could hope for, and that’s exactly what Carolina needs.