The Carolina Panthers are winless so far in the 2009 campaign and it doesn’t look good for them to get a win this weekend.

In the first week, the Panthers looked like a team that was going to challenge the 2008 Detroit Lions and become the second team in NFL history to finish a season 0-16.

However, last week against the Atlanta Falcons, the Panthers offense began to resemble the team that finished tied with the New York Giants for the best record in the National Conference last year. The defense, on the other hand, still looks like it hasn’t gotten over its performance in the last half of last season.

While Jake Delhomme appears to be getting himself back on track, he’s still not where he needs to be. Plus, you can’t fault him for trying to force the ball to Steve Smith at the end of the game because who else was he going to throw the ball to at that point?

Muhsin Muhammad has been the only other choice for Delhomme all season and he has eight catches for the year. Muhammad is a great leader in the locker room and one of the best blockers at his position, but as a receiver he’s not where he was. He is still a viable option in the passing game, but on most teams he would be the third receiver.

After Muhammad and Smith, the wide receiver corps for the Panthers have two catches all season. Dwayne Jarrett and Kenny Moore each have one reception.

I believe the offense will spring back to life, perhaps even against Dallas. The Cowboys are coming off a 33-31 loss to the Giants, when they allowed Eli Manning to throw for 330 yards and two touchdowns.

Even though the offense may be set for a big day, the defense is set to allow Tony Romo, Roy Williams and the rest of the Cowboys’ offense to have an even bigger day.

Under John Fox, the Panthers’ hallmark used to be its defensive play. Carolina at one time had what could be argued the best defensive front four in the game. Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker, Kris Jenkins and Maake Kemoeatu were a handful for offensive line.

Today, the defensive line is in disarray. Kemoeatu was lost for the year with a preseason injury and his replacement, Louis Leonard, was also lost for the season with a fractured ankle. Damione Lewis, the other defensive tackle, has four tackles and no sacks in the Panthers’ two games. Defensive end Tyler Brayton like Lewis has four tackles and no sacks.

The only remaining player from the feared Panthers front four of three seasons ago is Peppers. The University of North Carolina product has one of the team’s two sacks this season. While some are blaming all of the team’s defensive woes on him, Peppers may not be entirely at fault.

Even though the Panthers have two good linebackers in Thomas Davis and Jon Beason, the team’s secondary and defensive line, besides Peppers, leave a lot to be desired.

While Peppers is a wonderful talent, his actions this summer will force a lot of people to closely watch his play this season. Peppers knows he will hit the free agent market next year and command a huge salary with a top team no matter how he plays with the Panthers. Even if Peppers resorts back to his play of 2007 when he recorded just 2 1/2 sacks, whatever team gets him knows Peppers may have played less than all out for the lame duck Panthers.

Even though its only the third week of the season, Carolina is facing a must-win situation with the Cowboys. Win and the season can turnaround, lose and the Marty Hurney-Fox era may be on its last legs.