Forget champs. The Pats looked like chumps against the Panthers. Oh, and it doesn’t get any better this coming week as we will be subjected to hyped-up Steeler fans and a warm welcome at Heinz Field on Sunday.

Just when did the Patriots turn into a JV team when it comes to discipline? Twelve yellow flags for 86 yards was a maddening sight, for sure. Even more alarming was the fact that most of them were not physical penalties but were of the mental sort. For example, Rodney Harrison makes a key stop on Stephen Davis early in the third quarter but then puts a cherry on top of the play by ripping off Davis’s helmet for good measure. Or how about more false starts than I had during my dating career?

The result of many an NFL contest is decided by, say, 10 “big plays” throughout the course of the game. For the past few years, the Patriots usually made far more big plays than did their opponents. On Sunday, the team looked, well, average.

How about an early Duane Starks interception that was negated by a Rosevelt Colvin hands-to-the-face penalty? Or the Chris Gamble punt return that set up a late first half Carolina touchdown? Consider a host of overthrown balls on critical third downs by the normally sure-handed Tom Brady as well.

There is no question that Brady has spoiled us when it comes to third down efficiency. Last year, the Pats converted 45% of the time. On Sunday, it was a very uncool 29% (4-14). Carolina wasn’t much better at 5-14 for 36%. But didn’t it feel like whenever a conversion had to be made, somehow Jake Delhomme made the plays? Such as a third and 16, third quarter completion to Ricky Proehl that help set up a John Kasay 52 yard field goal.

Conversely, Brady didn’t look his normally sharp self at all. He appeared hurried, confused and angry most of the day. Passes that he normally makes with ease were non-existent.

Without question, most of Brady’s frustration was due to Carolina’s aggressive defensive game plan. Taking a page from the Raiders, the Panthers shut down Corey Dillon early and then did what few teams have been able to do against the Pats: successfully blitz a passing Brady.

Perhaps, some good can come out of this debacle. Maybe, we will finally appreciate the near-perfection of the last two years. And that, in turn, will realistically lower our standards for this upcoming season.

But before we collectively jump off a bridge and proclaim the run of Boston sports nirvana over, let’s remember a few facts:

1) It was a loss to an NFC team on a day when the Pats AFC East rivals didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory either.

2) When November rolls around, you’ll hardly remember week two of the NFL schedule. 3) Historically, the Patriots under Bill Belichick have responded well after an embarrassing loss.

And finally, just maybe we now care a bit more than we did before Sunday’s loss. Let’s face it. Collectively, we’ve been a little casual about this season. With the Steelers coming up and lots of questions left to be answered, I’m junking the polo shirt and tan slacks for a dark suit and tie.

Hopefully, the Steelers won’t dress down the Pats.