CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – Cam Newton tried to tell everyone who would listen last week that the Carolina Panthers were much better than an 0-2 team.

He and his teammates went out and proved it.

Newton threw three touchdown passes and ran for another, and Carolina sacked Eli Manning seven times as the Panthers handed Tom Coughlin his worst defeat as coach of the New York Giants, 38-0 on Sunday.

The Panthers posted the most lopsided victory in franchise history, helping to eliminate questions about coach Ron Rivera’s job security entering the team’s bye week.

“I told a couple of guys we were past due for a win like this,” Newton said. “A win like this boosts our ego and gives us that swagger we need.”

The result couldn’t have come at a better time for Rivera, especially after his team squandered fourth-quarter leads against Seattle and Buffalo. That dropped his record to 2-14 in games decided by seven points or fewer and raised speculation about his job.

“We allowed Coach, as people say, to survive another week,” Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith said.

Defensive end Greg Hardy, who tied a career-high with three sacks in the first half, said if Rivera was feeling pressure to win he never let on to his players at practice.

“He basically came out and said, ‘You know what, (to heck with) me, I’m here for you guys,’ ” Hardy said. “He said, ‘This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to win because we are a team not because of any of that.’ It makes you want to play 10 times harder for him.”

Colts 27, 49ers 7: In San Francisco, Andrew Luck threw for 164 yards and ran for a 6-yard touchdown while facing college coach Jim Harbaugh for the first time.

Bears 40, Steelers 23: In Pittsburgh, Chicago’s defense forced five turnovers and scored twice, and the Bears beat the Steelers to remain unbeaten.

Patriots 23, Buccaneers 3: In Foxborough, Massachusetts, Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes to undrafted rookie receiver Kenbrell Thompkins.

Bengals 34, Packers 30: In Cincinnati, Terence Newman returned a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown with 3:47 left, rallying the Bengals past Green Bay in a game of wild momentum swings set up by nonstop turnovers.

Saints 31, Cardinals 7: In New Orleans, Drew Brees passed for three scores and scrambled for the Saints’ first rushing touchdown of the season.

Cowboys 31, Rams 7: In Arlington, Texas, DeMarco Murray ran for 175 yards and a touchdown two years after torching St. Louis with a franchise record as a rookie.

Ravens 30, Texans 9: In Baltimore, Daryl Smith had a 37-yard interception return for a TD, Tandon Doss took a punt 82 yards for another score, and the Ravens smothered Houston’s high-powered offense.

Lions 27, Redskins 20: In Landover, Maryland, Matthew Stafford completed 25 of 42 passes for 385 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson both had 100 yards receiving for Detroit, which beat Washington on the road for the first time.

Titans 20, Chargers 17: In Nashville, Tennessee, Jake Locker threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to rookie Justin Hunter with 15 seconds left.

Browns 31, Vikings 27: In Minneapolis, Jordan Cameron caught three touchdown passes, including the go-ahead grab in the back of the end zone with 51 seconds left.

Seahawks 45, Jaguars 17: In Seattle, Russell Wilson matched his career high with four touchdown passes — two each to Sidney Rice and Zach Miller — and the Seahawks overwhelmed Jacksonville.

Dolphins 27, Falcons 23: In Miami Gardens, Florida, Ryan Tannehill lobbed a 1-yard touchdown pass to rookie Dion Sims with 38 seconds left, and the unbeaten Dolphins beat Atlanta.

Jets 27, Bills 20: In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Geno Smith threw two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 69-yarder to Santonio Holmes in the fourth quarter.