CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Julius Peppers played for the 2012 Chicago Bears (top-ranked in the NFL that season in total defense), the 2005 Carolina Panthers (second-ranked) and the 2002 Panthers (third-ranked).

Nine times in his previous 15 seasons the 37-year-old defensive end, who ranks fifth in the NFL in all-time sacks, has been on a unit that finished in the top 10.

So where does the 2017 Carolina defense, which hasn’t given up a touchdown in the first two games, compare to others Peppers has been a part of?

“This is the best one I’ve ever played on," Peppers said without hesitation. “I have all the trust and confidence and belief in these guys. We all play for one another."

Julius Peppers and the Panthers defense held Bills QB Tyrod Taylor in check all day. AP Photo/Mike McCarn

That’s high praise from the nine-time Pro Bowl selection and future Hall of Famer. It’s actually bold from a player who spent the first five months of his return to Carolina avoiding saying anything to the media.

But Peppers said before the season that the Panthers had a chance to be the league’s top-ranked defense. Nothing he’s seen in a 23-3 win over San Francisco in Week 1 and in Sunday’s 9-3 win over Buffalo has changed his mind.

“We’re just trying to stack wins," Peppers said.

In opening the season 2-0, the Panthers are stacking up impressive defensive stats. They rank first in the NFL in total defense, giving up 196.5 yards a game, and first in scoring defense, allowing three points a game.

They also rank among the top 10 in rush defense (60 ypg), sacks (7) and pass defense (136.5 ypg).

The last team to hold its first two opponents without a touchdown was the 2010 Baltimore Ravens. That team went on to finish 12-4, rank 10th in the NFL in total defense and third in points allowed (16.9 ppg.).

For the Panthers, it begins with stopping the run. Carolina held San Francisco to 51 yards rushing. The Bills had 69, but 55 of that came on scrambles by quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Running back LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 110 yards in Buffalo’s opener against the New York Jets, was limited to nine yards on 12 carries Sunday. He had no yards on three carries in the first half.

It was only the fourth time in McCoy’s career that he’s been held fewer than 10 yards rushing.

“It’s a team game, and we played well on defense," middle linebacker Luke Kuechly said.

That sounds cliché, but it’s the way this group thinks under first-year defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who last week said, “This defense is still under construction."

“I’m not going to sit here and jump the gun and say this is going to be the best defense in the National Football League," Wilks said. “But I tell you what; we have the chance to do that if we continue to process each day in the right order."

The next two weeks, against New Orleans and New England, will be a true test of how good this unit is. The Saints rank third in total offense with 386.5 yards a game, and the Patriots rank first with 463 a game.

The quarterbacks will be future Hall of Famers Drew Brees and Tom Brady, a big step up from Brian Hoyer and Taylor.

But the pieces are all in place for the Panthers to maintain what they have begun. The front four is one of the best and perhaps deepest with quality all the way across.

Peppers doesn’t even start, playing behind 2017 Carolina sack leader Mario Addison and Charles Johnson. But he’s still playing like a 27-year-old, leading the team in sacks, with 2.5 after collecting two against the Bills.

Pro Bowler Kawann Short anchors the tackle position that includes two first-round picks in Star Lotulelei and Vernon Butler.

Kuechly, Thomas Davis and Shaq Thompson make up arguably the best linebacker corps in the league. Kuechly and Davis are Pro Bowlers, and Thompson is just starting to come into his own.

The secondary was bolstered by the addition of two-time Pro Bowl strong safety Mike Adams, allowing 2015 interception leader Kurt Coleman to return to his natural position of free safety.

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Second-year cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley are light years ahead of where they were this time a year ago. Captain Munnerlyn has stabilized a nickel spot that has been anything but steady the past three years.

Again, the 49ers and Bills don’t have nearly the weapons the next two opponents have. Maybe that’s why Davis tempered his comments when given Peppers’ evaluation of the defense.

“I think we have the potential to be really good, and the first two weeks is a really good indication of that," he said. “It’s still early in the season. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re getting ready to face a lot of high-powered offenses, and defensively we have to be prepared for that and understand it’s only going to get tougher as we continue to go."

But for now, the Panthers can’t do much more than they have.

“I feel like the sky is the limit," Peppers said. “And yeah, this is the best I’ve ever played on before."