Cam Newton throws four first-half TDs (Video)

Cam Newton threw four touchdown passes for the Carolina Panthers… in the first half!

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton may still have a lot clawing and scratching to do to catch Tom Brady in the MVP race, but he is continuing to make a relatively strong case for the award.

If the Panthers hold on for the win against the Washington Redskins, they will improve to 10-0, which would mark their best start in franchise history. Newton has already thrown four touchdown passes against the Redskins before halftime even approached. The Panthers quarterback got things started with a 12-yard touchdown pass to running back Jonathan Stewart.

After the Redskins responded quickly with a long touchdown catch by wide receiver DeSean Jackson, the Panthers took the lead back in the first quarter. Fullback Mike Tolbert continued to be a touchdown vulture for the Panthers as he caught a short pass from Newton.

The Redskins responded even more quickly after Tolbert’s touchdown, as wide receiver Andre Roberts took a kickoff 99 yards to the house for the tie. However, the Panthers did not allow any more touchdowns in the first half to the Redskins. They managed to score two more of their own though. Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. caught a two-yard pass from Newton in the end zone, but his catch was initially ruled incomplete. The officials reversed the call and gave him the touchdown after further review though.

After making do with lesser known receivers like he has all season, Newton went back to throwing to his favorite weapon in tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen showed himself as a reliable red-zone target once again by catching a five-yard touchdown pass.

The Panthers offense had low expectations coming into this season after wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL, but Newton has grown as a quarterback and leader. He already showed how much of a winner he can be in college when he led Auburn to a national championship. He has taken a Panthers squad that went 2-14 in 2010 to Super Bowl contention, and his statistics are finally rewarding his impact on the Panthers.