I'm not sure if you've heard, but the Carolina Panthers are still unbeaten at 12-0. Yes, the same Panthers that limped into the playoffs last year with a 7-8-1 record. Yes, the same Panthers team that came into the season with arguably the worst wide receiver corps and offensive line in the league.
How have they done it?
Ranking third in yards allowed per game (314.3) and ninth in points (20.3) probably has something to do with it, as does their stellar run defense. But to find the true source of their success, look no further than quarterback Cam Newton.
Newton, always an unparalleled physical threat at the position, has matched his immense natural gifts with a more nuanced understanding of the game this year. His improved all-around play has him firmly in line for the MVP award (and an unbeaten record), an honor ESPN's David Newton thinks the young QB has all but wrapped up.
"Quarterback Cam Newton will win the MVP after helping the Panther complete an undefeated regular season," Newton wrote in ESPN's Late Season Predictions list. "He'll continue to complete a high percentage of passes and get his final completion percentage over 60 - he's at 58.4 now - and finish with a career-high 34 touchdown passes. He has already eclipsed his single-season high of 24 from 2013."
On the season, Newton has thrown for 2,797 yards with 25 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He has also rushed for 476 yards and seven scores on a 4.4 YPC average. Similar to Seattle's Russell Wilson, Newton has seemingly found the perfect balance between using his arm and his legs, a feat other mobile quarterbacks such as Michael Vick and Robert Griffin III never quite mastered.
But can Carolina go 16-0, virtually guaranteeing Newton his first MVP award? The team's remaining opponents have a combined record of just 17-19, not exactly a murderer's row. Should the Panthers join the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2007 New England Patriots, it would be hard to deny Newton of the individual honor. Even if Carolina does drop a game along the way, Newton is still very much in the MVP race.
