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Newton completed 21 of 26 passes for 293 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 38-10 victory over the Bucs. He also was limited to 10 yards on six carries but scored two rushing touchdowns.
The five-year pro put his stamp on an MVP-caliber regular season by posting at least one passing and rushing touchdown in the same game for the seventh time. He finished the season with a total of 45 end-zone visits (35 passing, 10 rushing), and his passing touchdown total represented a career high. Just as important, Newton threw a career-low 10 interceptions, a key to Carolina's 14-0 start. He thrived despite a receiving corps that many panned heading into the regular season after the loss of rookie Kelvin Benjamin in August, and finished the season with a remarkable 3,837 yards while tight end Greg Olsen served as the closest thing to a true No.1 receiver that he was afforded. Newton appears primed to lead the Panthers deep into the playoffs at a minimum, and the team's opportunistic defense figures to provide him with some solid field position off turnovers along the way.
