NFL MVP Watch (After Week 15)

Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs with the ball against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Giants 38-35. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

1. QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

It has been an amazing season for the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. And talk about the fifth time being the charm?

In his first four seasons, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had never thrown at least five touchdown passes in a game. Now he’s turned that trick three times in his last five contests. As was the case in the 41-38 victory at New Orleans two weeks ago, Newton and his team needed all of those scores (as well as 100 yards rushing) as the Panthers held off the savvy New York Giants on Sunday, 38-35.

The former Auburn star has now thrown for 3,402 yards and 33 touchdowns (10 touchdowns) this season – 18 of those scores in his last five games. And let’s not forget his 580 yards rushing and a team-high seven touchdowns on the ground.

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The Panthers own the league’s best record at 14-0, have scored an NFL-high 449 points and are ranked in the top 10 in both total yards gained and allowed. This is a player and a team that continue to astound and in two of the last three weeks, learned they can prevail in the nail-biters as well.

And the exuberant Newton continue to show there’s a lot more to his game than just raw athletic talent.