Since Smith's arrival in 2001, the Panthers are 7-13 in games in which Smith doesn't play.

On Sunday, Smith will be back in Charlotte when his teammates visit the San Diego Chargers, serving a two-game suspension for punching teammate Ken Lucas in the nose during training camp.

This isn't the first time the Panthers have started the season with Smith on the shelf either.

In 2006, he sat out the first two games with a hamstring pull and Carolina began the season 0-2, losing to Atlanta and Minnesota. When Smith returned the Panthers offense caught fire and won four straight. However, injuries set in and the Panthers finished the season 8-8.

"It wasn't much fun," Fox said of having to play without Smith. "But hopefully we're a better team now. We have a tall order going out there again=

st a team that 7-1 at home last year and some people are picking to be the representatives of the AFC."

When asked why he believes this team is better suited to handle the loss of Smith, Fox replied, "It's just a feel (I have) for the team."

D.J. Hackett, a free agent pickup from Seattle, is expected to start in Smith's place even though he has not practiced since Aug. 6 because of a toe injury and didn't participate in any preseason games.

With Smith out, quarterback Jake Delhomme will rely more on him, Muhsin Muhammad, Dwayne Jarrett and tight end Dante Rosario to make plays in the passing game. The Panthers will be without receiver Ryne Robinson, who is still nursing a sprained knee.

"He's a big part of this," said fullback Brad Hoover. "He's a play-maker, he's a big part of our offense. For him to be out, I don't want to say hurt, but it does affect some of the things we do sometimes. Because he is such a big part of things, and he can change games in the snap of a finger. But at the same time, we have to go on without him, have to be able to win without him. That's the bottom line."

Smith's absence means the Panthers will need to rely heavily on their running game, which is something they plan to hang their hat on this year anyway.

Running back DeAngelo Williams will start the game, but rookie Jonathan Stewart is expected to see a good bit of action.

The problem in the past for the Panthers has been when opponents have brought an extra safety up in the box when Smith isn't on the field. None of Carolina's receivers can stretch the field like Smith can.

"It wouldn't surprise me if that's part of what they do," Fox admitted. "But (our) other guys playing are pros, too. They're on a 53-man roster, they've all caught balls in the National Football League before. It'll be like any game, it'll be who executes."

The good news is the Panthers have made strides in their running game with both Williams and Stewart averaging better than 7 yards per carry in the preseason.

Whether or not that translates over into the regular season remains to be seen.

"We're preparing to play football like we would with or without Steve," Williams said. "I don't think they're going to do anything different without him in the lineup. We've still got some great receivers, in D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad and DJ, so they've just got to pick their poison. Either they stack the box or play our wide receivers ... I think they're going to come out with a balanced defense, and we're going to come out with a balanced offense. When kickoff starts, it's the team that makes the fewest mistakes."

But fullback Brad Hoover said he expects extra bodies to help stop the run, too. "Probably so," Hoover said. "It's not like we don't have other receivers that can't come in and do well, do the things that's asked of them. We're going to try to hang our hats on being a physical, hard-hitting, run-oriented football team, so it doesn't really matter to us what they do."

SERIES HISTORY: 4th meeting. Panthers lead series 2-1. In the last meeting in 2004, the Chargers defeated the Panthers 16-7.