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CHARLOTTE -- Herm Edwards came up to John Fox an hour before kickoff and gave him a hearty bear hug. The former college teammates then exchanged stories and laughs.

But the second matchup of the ex-San Diego State defensive backs was no fair fight: Fox has the Carolina Panthers looking like an NFC contender, and Edwards' Kansas City Chiefs are still clearly rebuilding, no matter what happened last week.

DeAngelo Williams had 123 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns and the Panthers held Larry Johnson to 2 yards rushing in a 34-0 win Sunday.

It was the first time in six years that the Chiefs were shut out.

"It's been a while since we've had a game like this," said Fox, after Carolina's most lopsided win in team history.

The Panthers (4-1), who have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, are off to their best start since reaching the Super Bowl in the 2003 season. It was one of their most dominating performances since they crushed the Edwards-coached New York Jets 30-3 in 2005 on the way to reaching the NFC championship game.

You can't blame Edwards if he wants no part of another game against Fox.

"I didn't see that coming at all. We were a confident team after last week's game," Edwards said of the Chiefs (1-4), who routed Denver to end a franchise-record 12-game losing streak. "Then we come in here and we acted like we've never played before."

The Panthers had a lot to do with it.

Williams and Jonathan Stewart ran through a woeful defense that also couldn't stop the pass. Steve Smith caught six passes for 96 yards, Muhsin Muhammad had a 47-yard touchdown catch and the Panthers moved to 3-0 at Bank of America Stadium after going 2-6 at home last season.

"We had talent last year, but I don't think the chemistry was there," safety Chris Harris said.

"We've got great chemistry. Guys like each other, and that's huge."

After holding Atlanta to three field goals last week, the Panthers' swarming, speedy defense gave up only 127 yards, and again stopped a top running back. Johnson, who had rushed for 319 yards in the past two games, had 2 yards on seven carries.

"You know they're going to gang up on the run because of the success we had before, and that's what you have to live with," said Johnson, who joined LaDainian Tomlinson, Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner in all failing to gain 100 yards against Carolina.