Charlotte, N.C. ? Brett Favre stood alone at midfield, watching in frustrated disbelief as the Carolina Panthers celebrated the end of his improbable rally. It was vintage Favre, but despite his best efforts, the Green Bay Packers are off to their worst start in 17 years.

Favre threw four touchdown passes Monday night but couldn’t overcome two early turnovers that the Panthers used to build a big lead, and Carolina held on for a 32-29 victory.

The Packers fell to 0-4 for the first time since 1988.

“It’s hard to express in words how disappointed I am. I left it all on the field,” Favre said. “I’ve never been 0-4, but it’s a hand we’ve been dealt.”

Rallying Green Bay from a 19-point deficit in the third quarter, Favre threw two touchdown passes and two 2-point conversions in the fourth quarter and had the Packers in position to win the game on their final drive.

But with running back Ahman Green sidelined by an injured knee and no timeouts, Favre had to do it all on his own when Green Bay got the ball back with 1:58 to play. He completed two passes before Carolina (2-2) stopped the Packers on a fourth-and-2.

Favre threw the ball to Donald Driver past the first down line, but Chris Gamble knocked the ball out of his hands and it fell incomplete.

“You definitely don’t want to be in that situation with Brett Favre,” said Carolina safety Mike Minter.

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre fumbles after getting hit by Carolina's Mike Rucker during the first quarter. The Panthers won, 32-29, Monday in Charlotte, N.C.

“Once you give them a chance to get back in their rhythm, Brett Favre will be Brett Favre.”

Favre, a 15-year veteran and future Hall of Famer who is possibly playing his final season, stood alone on the field as the Panthers celebrated.

One by one, the Panthers approached him in a show of respect.

Among them was Mike Wahle, the left guard who spent seven seasons protecting Favre before signing with Carolina. The two embraced.

“You’re never safe – No. 4 can do some amazing things back there,” Wahle said. “I’ve seen him do it many times.”

Jake Delhomme threw two touchdown passes and Stephen Davis ran for two more as the Panthers built an early lead and put themselves in position to ride out an easy win.

Perhaps that’s just where Favre wanted them.

“I was just praying for our defense to get a stop,” Delhomme said. “He was awesome tonight. I’m just honored to be on the same field with him.”

Delhomme was 17-of-24 for 206 yards and Davis carried 19 times for 51 yards. Steve Smith, who scored three touchdowns last week against Miami, caught only two passes for 12 yards.

“They tried to take Steve Smith out of the game, which they did a bit, but that opened up things for other people,” Delhomme said.

Green, who ran for 119 yards and three TDs in a win over Carolina last season, was held to 36 yards before leaving the game with the leg injury in the third quarter.

Trailing 26-7 midway through the third quarter, Favre turned it up a level, and suddenly looked again like he was having fun doing it.

He led by example on an 80-yard scoring drive, sprinting up the middle for a 12-yard gain on third-and-8 and finishing it off with a 26-yard TD pass to Driver.

Favre finished 28-of-47 for 303 yards and four touchdowns – his 19th game of four or more touchdown passes, second to Dan Marino’s record 21.

The pass to Driver was Favre’s 50th touchdown pass on Monday Night Football, second only to Marino’s 74, and it cut Carolina’s lead to 26-13.

The Panthers pushed it to 32-13 on Davis’ second score of the game, a 1-yard run with 14:44 to play that gave them what seemed to be an insurmountable lead.

But after a Packers punt, Delhomme fumbled, Green Bay recovered and Favre made the Panthers pay for it one play later with a 16-yard scoring strike to Donald Lee.

His finest work, though, came on the Packers’ next drive. Favre was 8-of-12 on a 90-yard march, hitting Antonio Chatman on a 4-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone.

Packers receiver Terrence Murphy injured his neck during the second quarter and was to be hospitalized for at least one night. He lay motionless on the field surrounded by medical personnel for several minutes as some of his teammates kneeled in prayer. He was taken off on a stretcher.

The Packers said Murphy was alert and awake in the locker room with movement in his limbs, but was complaining of numbness and tingling. He was transported to Carolina’s Medical Center for further evaluation and Packers coach Mike Sherman said he would spend at least one night there.

“It was very scary,” Sherman said. “It looks like he’s going to be OK.”