CHARLOTTE, N.C. - They lost the game, a chunk of their pride, some points off their Q rating and one of their best players. Other than that, the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers had a great night.

Not since the Green Bay Packers of 1996-97 has an NFC team made back-to-back trips to the Super Bowl, and the Panthers gave every indication Monday that the streak would reach seven years. They were undressed before a national television audience by the Green Bay Packers, 24-14.

Those holding the belief that these Panthers had the look of the Dexy’s Midnight Runners; a one-hit wonder, have that Einstein look about them today.

That Carolina defense, the unit that was supposed to have arguably the best front seven in all of football, well, you can start arguing. The Packers gashed them to the tune of 152 yards on the ground, including 119 by resident workhorse Ahman Green.

"Those guys were pounding us,’’ fessed up Panthers safety Mike Minter, sounding as bewildered as he was angry. "We couldn’t stop the run. … (Green) was getting hit by linebackers and he was still breaking tackles, getting back there in the secondary. It was a tough lesson for us.’’

That lesson was made even tougher by the reality that the Panthers questionable offensive line was as suspect as advertised.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme was in full retreat much of the night, often caught throwing off his back foot and often ending up on his back against a Packers defense that blitzed as though it was the only plan in the playbook.

"We knew they were going to do that coming in," said Delhomme. "We didn’t make enough plays, and that starts with the quarterback position."

Then he set his confession aside and went into full spin mode.

"It’s not the end of the world," he said. "It’s the first game. We’ll be OK."

That’s what he was selling, but it was doubtful anybody was buying.

Aside from an offensive line that was so ineffective it produced just 39 yards rushing at fewer than three yards a carry, the Panthers also lost their A-list receiver in Steve Smith, who broke his left fibula and will be out for several weeks.

"He’s our home-run hitter," said Minter. "We’re definitely going to miss him. … We have Keary Colbert."

Keary Colbert? What they need is smoke, mirrors and a little magic. What they need Penn & Teller. And they’re available.

In their attempt to get healthy, the dance card says the Panthers must travel to Kansas City this week and face Priest Holmes. Then after a week’s respite, they play host Atlanta then travel to Denver and Philadelphia.

If case you’re wondering, this is a cause for concern, and heartburn.

As the Panthers swallowed hard and bravely talked as if this disaster was some kind of aberration, you know that somewhere, deep inside, confidence was being replaced by doubt. You don’t suffer that kind of defeat, and you don’t lose a player the caliber of Smith and not have it take a toll. The question now is how much?

This did not look like a team ready to defend its title, and by the close of business Monday, Smith’s injury ensured it was not as good a team as the one that hit the field.

Yeah, it was just one game, but the Panthers lost a whole lot more.