Charlotte, N.C. ? The Carolina Panthers know a Week 2 victory over New England doesn’t come close to rectifying their Super Bowl loss to the Patriots two years ago.

Even so, their 27-17 victory over the Patriots on Sunday sure did feel good.

“It wasn’t a revenge game or a get-back game, because that was a long time ago,” said Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme. “This was just a big win for us.”

It certainly was no Super Bowl reprise because neither team played that well.

But the Panthers (1-1) did just enough to win, getting three touchdowns from Stephen Davis in the first regular-season meeting between the teams since the Patriots’ thrilling 32-29 Super Bowl win two seasons ago.

But if it was any indication, neither team is ready to play for a championship and the Patriots (1-1) look nothing like a winner of three of the last four Super Bowls.

“Do you think we’re going to win any more games playing like this?” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We can’t play like this. We have to play better. We have to coach better. This won’t be good enough … against anyone we play.”

Carolina won in spite of Delhomme, who was off all day and had an interception by Mike Vrabel returned 24 yards for a touchdown. Delhomme finished 11-of-26 for 154 yards and no touchdowns.

It meant the Panthers had to rely on Davis, who ran for 77 yards and scored on three one-yard plunges in his second game back from microfracture surgery on his right knee. Davis became the first running back to score three TDs against the Patriots since Curtis Martin did it in 2000.

“I’m fine,” Davis said. I’m feeling great. I’m having no setbacks.”

Kris Mangum (86) of the Carolina Panthers is leveled as he jumps past New England's Asante Samuel (22) during the second quarter. The Panthers beat the Super Bowl champs, 27-17, Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.

Neither did Carolina’s defense, despite the loss of tackle Kris Jenkins to a season-ending knee injury. Even without their run stopper, the Panthers shut down Corey Dillon and limited the Patriots to 39 yards rushing.

“One person isn’t going to cause a tremendous drop-off, contrary to popular belief,” said end Julius Peppers.

Tom Brady finished 23-of-44 for 270 yards, one interception and one fumble. He did throw a one-yard TD pass to Daniel Graham early in the first quarter, the 100th passing touchdown of his career, but struggled from there.

Colts 10, Jaguars 3

Indianapolis – Edgerrin James scampered for 128 yards, Ran Carthon scored on a six-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, and Indianapolis turned in a second consecutive solid defensive performance.

The victory gave Indianapolis (2-0) an early edge in the AFC South title chase. Jacksonville (1-1) was the only team to beat Indianapolis at home last year and nearly came back in the game’s final two minutes.

Steelers 27, Texans 7

Houston – Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger directed Pittsburgh to scores on its first four drives, a pair of field goals sandwiched around touchdown passes of 16 and 14 yards to Hines Ward.

Pittsburgh (2-0) won its 16th straight regular-season game, matching the Miami teams of 1971-73 and 1983-84 for the second-best streak in league history and their eighth straight on the road.

In losing their home opener, the Texans (0-2) continued to look lost on offense, especially quarterback David Carr, who was 16-of-26 for 167 yards passing.

Broncos 20, Chargers 17

Denver – Jason Elam booted a 41-yard field goal with five seconds left.

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson (21) is congratulated by quarterback Drew Brees (9) and Antonio Gates after Tomlinson's second TD run in the first half of a 20-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. He set a record by scoring a rushing touchdown in 14 straight games.

Ron Dayne came off the bench and ran six times for 38 yards on the winning drive, including an 11-yard gain on fourth-and-one from the Chargers 33. It saved the Broncos (1-1) from going 0-2 for the first time since 1999.

Instead, it’s San Diego (0-2) that remains winless despite leading 14-3 early.

LaDainian Tomlinson ran for both San Diego scores in the second quarter.

The first gave Tomlinson the NFL record with a rushing touchdown in 14 straight games. The second gave the Chargers a 14-3 lead.

Eagles 42, 49ers 3

Philadelphia – Donovan McNabb threw four of his five touchdown passes in the first 19 minutes, including a pair to Terrell Owens.

McNabb played three quarters, finishing 23-of-29 for 342 yards and tying his career-best for TD passes.

Owens had five catches for 143 yards – all in the opening 19 minutes – in his first game against his former team.

Bengals 37, Vikings 8

Cincinnati – Chad Johnson caught a 70-yard touchdown pass on the game’s second play, and the Bengals (2-0) had an easy time against the Vikings (0-2), rolling up 337 yards and a 27-0 lead in the first half.

Daunte Culpepper threw a career-high five interceptions, three to Deltha O’Neal.

Buccaneers 19, Bills 3

Tampa, Fla. – Carnell Williams topped 100 yards rushing for the second straight week, returning from a foot sprain to finish a 128-yard performance that helped Tampa Bay (2-0) beat Buffalo (1-1).

Willis McGahee was held to 34 yards on 13 carries after gaining 117 in the Bills’ season-opening victory over Houston.

Titans 25, Ravens 10

Nashville, Tenn. – Steve McNair threw a touchdown pass, and Rob Bironas kicked field goals of 39, 29 and 47 yards as the NFL’s youngest team beat Baltimore.

The rebuilding Titans (1-1) had replaced five starters on defense this offseason, but they easily outplayed Baltimore’s Pro Bowl-stocked unit with six sacks and two turnovers, including linebacker Brad Kassell’s 21-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.

Bears 38, Lions 6

Chicago – Chicago (1-1) scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.

After struggling to move the ball a week earlier, the Bears’ Thomas Jones led Chicago with 139 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Kyle Orton completed 14 of 21 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown and did not throw an interception.

Joey Harrington of Detroit (1-1) threw a career-high five INTs.

Seahawks 21, Falcons 18

Seattle – The Seahawks (1-1) took a 21-0 halftime lead and barely held on.

Shaun Alexander ran for 144 yards and a touchdown, and Matt Hasselbeck threw for 281 yards and two more TDs. Still, it was the defense that won it for the Seahawks, shutting down the Falcons after Atlanta (1-1) got the ball back with 2:39 left at its 27 needing just a field goal to send the game to overtime.

Jets 17, Dolphins 7

East Rutherford, N.J. – Chad Pennington threw two touchdown passes, including a one-yarder to Jerald Sowell in the fourth quarter, to help atone for six fumbles last week in an embarrassing loss to Kansas City.

Gus Frerotte threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Randy McMichael at the start of the quarter, closing the Dolphins (1-1) to 10-7. On the ensuing drive, Pennington went 7-of-7 for 74 yards to give the Jets (1-1) the clinching TD.

Rams 17, Cardinals 12

Tempe, Ariz.- Kurt Warner fell a few yards shy of a memorable comeback against his former team.

Warner, 29-for-42 for 327 yards in his first game against St. Louis (1-1), drove Arizona (0-2) to the five-yard line in the final seconds. But a sack by Adam Archuleta and a false start by offensive tackle Leonard Davis preserved the Rams’ victory.

Browns 26, Packers 24

Green Bay – Trent Dilfer won for the first time in nine trips to Lambeau Field, giving new coach Romeo Crennel his first victory for Cleveland (1-1). Dilfer threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards and a game-icing 62-yarder to Steve Heiden with 1:50 remaining.