NFL

Panthers push Packers to 0-4

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Brett Favre showed he still has some Monday night magic, just not enough to prevent the Packers from their worst start in 17 years.

Favre threw four touchdowns but couldn't overcome two early turnovers that the Panthers used to build a big lead and held on for a 32-29 victory.

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

Rallying Green Bay from a 19-point third-quarter deficit, Favre threw two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions in the fourth quarter and had the Packers in position to possibly win on their final drive.

The Packers, with running back Ahman Green on the sideline with an injured knee and no timeouts left, and Favre got the ball back with 1:58 to play. He completed two passes before Carolina stopped Green Bay on a fourth and 2 from the Carolina 41.

Favre passed to Donald Driver past the first-down line, but Chris Gamble knocked the ball out of his hands.

Favre, a 15-year veteran and future Hall of Famer who is possibly playing his final season, stood alone at the 44-yard line. Soon, Carolina tight end Kris Mangum, a fellow Mississippian, walked over and patted the dejected Favre on the helmet.

Jake Delhomme threw two touchdowns while Stephen Davis ran for an 11-yard score to help the Panthers take a 26-13 lead after three quarters.

"I was just praying for our defense to get a stop," Delhomme said. "(Favre) was awesome. I'm just honored to be on the same field with him."

John Kasay added two field goals for the Panthers, who scored 19 straight points to break a 7-7 tie after the first quarter.

Farve finished 28-of-47 for 303 yards. It was his 19th game of four or more touchdown passes, second to Dan Marino's record 21. His 26-yard pass to Driver in the third quarter was Favre's 50th touchdown on Monday Night Football , second only to Marino's 74, and cut Carolina's lead to 26-13.

Green Bay rookie receiver Terrence Murphy was taken off the field on a stretcher in the second quarter. Murphy had just picked up a fumbled kick return and turned up field to run with it when he was tackled by Carolina's Thomas Davis. It appeared to be a helmet-to-helmet hit, and Murphy folded awkwardly as he collapsed to the ground.

He lay motionless on the field surrounded by medical personnel for several minutes as some of his teammates kneeled in prayer.

The Packers said Murphy was alert and awake in the locker room and had movement in his limbs. He was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

[Last modified October 4, 2005, 02:15:30]