The early MVP of the National Football League has to be Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers. No one had the Panthers starting the season 5-0. They are perfect so far this season because of the play and leadership of Newton.
The fifth-year quarterback out of Auburn has literally carried his offense, which is minus its best receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, for the season.
Newton has quietly put together a superb season. He has thrown eight touchdown passes, four interceptions, and rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns.
However, stats alone do not adequately describe his impact on the Panthers. His production has been timely. In the Panthers’ 27-23 come from behind victory at Seattle ,we saw the perfect example of Newton’s growth as a player and a leader.
Newton struggled most of the game against the Seahawks’ defense. Through the first three quarters he only completed only 8 of 21 passes, and was intercepted twice.
But Newton never got frustrated. He stayed focused on the tasks at hand. In the fourth quarter, he got hot.
Newton led the Panthers on two touchdown drives of 80 yards. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 162 yards. The game-winner was a brilliant, 26-yard strike to tight end Greg Olsen, who beat Seattle’s Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas on the play.
The combination of Newton’s playmaking in the clutch, and a very good defense has the Panthers with a perfect record. It should also have him in the early MVP conversation.
