CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- What better time for Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to legitimize his MVP candidacy than with reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers in town?
And in front of a national television audience.
Newton made much of his statement in the first half of Sunday’s 37-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers, making plays the way Rodgers did all last season, when he had 38 touchdown passes to only five interceptions. Newton accounted for more than 200 yards passing and three touchdowns -- two passing and one rushing -- for the first time in any half of his career.
Newton finished the game with 297 yards passing and four touchdowns to give the Panthers (8-0) a two-game lead over every team in the NFC. Until an interception with 3 minutes, 38 seconds remaining, he played almost flawlessly.
It was Newton’s third career game with three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown since Week 6 of 2013 against the Minnesota Vikings. His final passer rating of 104.4 was the kind of rating Rodgers consistently put up last season in winning the MVP award.
What it means: With a two-game cushion in the NFC, the Panthers are the front-runner for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. That they’ve already beaten Green Bay and the Seattle Seahawks, two of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, gives them the tiebreaker over both should it come to that. With the next two games against the Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins, it’s not inconceivable that Carolina goes into a Thanksgiving Day game at the Dallas Cowboys with a 10-0 record.
One reason to get excited: That 52-yard catch by rookie wide receiver Devin Funchess in the second quarter. He had tight coverage and made the catch at the Green Bay 10-yard line to set up Carolina’s second touchdown. The Panthers had been looking for Funchess to make that kind of play since No. 1 receiver Kelvin Benjamin was lost to a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Funchess added a 14-yard touchdown catch in the second half to finish with three catches for 71 yards. Can you say coming-out party?
One reason to panic: This may be nitpicking, but for the second straight week, the Panthers gave up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Both came when the team had big leads, so you could argue there was a letdown. But you can bet that coach Ron Rivera would like to see his defense put a team away.
Fantasy watch: For the fifth time this season, Newton had a rushing touchdown and at least one passing touchdown, this time three as mentioned above. He’s becoming a candidate for fantasy MVP in addition to NFL MVP.
Ouch: Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly left in the third quarter with a right ankle sprain, but he was back on the field on the next series. Kuechly missed three games with a concussion earlier this season. This shouldn't keep him out.
What were they thinking? A second-quarter decision to put third-string quarterback Joe Webb in the backfield with Newton and give Webb the ball on direct snap backfired. It resulted in a loss on the first play after the Panthers recovered a fumble at the Green Bay 24. The Panthers wound up getting no points on the drive. Sometimes it’s best to keep doing what you do well instead of getting too cute.
What’s up with Pep? When Carolina's 2011 first-round pick Newton scored on a 1-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, the ball wound up in the hands of Green Bay defensive end Julius Peppers, the second pick of the 2002 draft by Carolina. Peppers wouldn’t give Newton the ball to share it with a fan, as the quarterback typically does. Newton eventually got the ball and did his thing.
