Cam Newton matures along with streaking Panthers

Jim Corbett | USA TODAY Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton is not only winning, the Carolina Panthers quarterback is growing this season.

When asked if Monday night's home game against three-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and the New England Patriots could be a preview of Super Bowl XLVIII, Newton passed on making any boisterous claims and played it like the veteran quarterback he has become.

"We're trying to make ourselves a household name in this league and what a great opportunity to start on Monday night," Newton told USA TODAY Sports. "We're not looking for any Super Bowl preview; not looking forward to the playoffs right now. We're just looking to make this team 7-3."

Indeed Newton knows his Panthers haven't done anything yet despite winning five consecutive games, including Sunday's 10-9 road victory against the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

Monday night's duel against one of Newton's boyhood idols marks the biggest game he has played since the Panthers drafted the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner first overall three years ago. Or 19 wins and 22 losses ago.

"With the Carolina Panthers and all we and our fans have been through the last couple years, we have a lot to play for right now," said Newton, whose team trails the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South by one game. "It's us taking one opportunity at a time to prove to ourselves first that we're capable of being in a high-profile game and flourishing in it."

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DIFFERENT DEMEANOR

Although the victory over the 49ers was their most impressive of the season thus far, Newton says the team is focused on doing it again and again.

There's no reason to think Newton can't lead the Panthers to more unlikely victories. There seems to be something different about him this season.

He is lighter in demeanor, and it seems long ago he was being criticized for draping a towel over his head and scowling in frustration after losing to the New York Giants in Week 3 last season.

Coach Ron Rivera credits his quarterback for playing faster, smarter and emerging as more of a risk-averse field general who is complementing a 10th-ranked run game and a championship-caliber, second-ranked defense.

"I don't think Cam gets the credit he deserves because he no longer feels he has to make every play," Rivera told USA TODAY Sports. "That has been part of his maturing. He realized, 'I've got a great crew.'

"People don't realize how much he checks down, puts us in the right protections, the right runs and throws before the snap. People don't want to give him that kind of credit yet. Hopefully, as we continue to grow and win, people will realize he's a pretty good quarterback."

Before the buzz created by last year's record-setting draft class of Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson, who led their teams to the playoffs as rookies starters, Newton was that dynamic dual-threat playmaker who set rookie quarterback records. In 41 games, Newton has passed for 53 touchdowns and rushed for 26 touchdowns, the only player in league history with 50-plus passing touchdowns and 25-plus rushing touchdowns in a three-season span.

This season he has four rushing toucdowns and 13 passing scores, along with completing 63% of his passes.

"Cam's done a lot of good things," Rivera said. "I know we haven't won and I get that. But he's so much more confident, handles the outside stuff so much better. He's more engaged, focused. And he does protect the ball."

Newton praises a defense that is allowing 12.8 points per game and has forced 21 turnovers.

"Our defense is very good — they've been the backbone of our team," Newton said. "There is a lot of leadership from Thomas Davis, Luke Kuechly, Charles Johnson and those guys holding themselves accountable. With the turnovers they're getting, setting the offense up, those are things we haven't had in years past.

'FUN IS WINNING'

So has Newton, who spent an offseason of soul searching evaluating how a quarterback who won a national championship at Auburn and before that at Blinn Junior College (Texas) could be more interactive with teammates on and off the field.

"The big thing to having fun is winning," Newton said. "Up to this point, I've only had flashes. I can't look back and say, 'I know how to win,' because I haven't won consistently in this league. But I'm going to continue to do the things to put myself in the situation by preparing the right way. And hopefully, the wins will keep coming."

Instead of getting frustrated when things go wrong, Newton has responded by answering mistakes with touchdowns.

"This year more than last year, he acts like THE quarterback, very mature," said Kuechly. "I don't know if 'composed' is the right word. But Cam is confident, relaxed. If he throws a pick, he'll go back out and go throw a touchdown. A mistake doesn't faze him.

"The offense is just holding the ball, letting the defense hang out on the sideline, get fresh then, go back out and make plays."

It is the best of all possible scenarios for a young quarterback and team on the rise.

Newton gets the "Monday Night Football" stage to show if he and his team have turned the Super Bowl contender corner against Brady, whose poster Newton used to have on his College Park, Ga., bedroom wall along with those of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Michael Vick in his Atlanta Falcons prime.

"It still comes down to the things that get overlooked — the execution, holding each other accountable — lead by example," said Newton, sounding like Brady.

Veteran receiver Steve Smith has been to one Super Bowl in 2003 when the Panthers lost to the Patriots 32-29. Smith, 34, is his team's voice of perspective.

"Cam is 24 years old. Just let the kid play," Smith said. "When I catch it, I don't go, 'Oh, man, he's so much more mature than the last pass he threw.' It's really been too much made of it.

"Thus far this is one of the most complete teams I've been on. But when February comes, we'll either be in it or not. Unless you're the team that is hoisting the trophy, nothing else matters."