Cam Newton's Record-Breaking Season Resurrects Carolina Panthers Offense

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton broke an NFL record Sunday that stood for 35 years.

In the Panther's Week 13 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Newton ran for three touchdowns, giving him 13 rushing touchdowns on the season.

Those 13 rushing touchdowns by Newton are the most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a quarterback in NFL history, one more than the New England Patriots' Steve Grogan scored in 1976.

Newton also became just the second player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown in nine of his first 12 games. The other player was Hall-of-Famer Eric Dickerson. 

Newton has single-handedly turned the Panthers offense around. He's accounted for 26 touchdowns this year, which is remarkable when you consider the Panthers offense scored 16 touchdowns total last season.

Newton has broken more than a few records in his rookie season.

In Week 1, he became the first rookie to throw for 400-plus yards in his first career game. And his 422 passing yards broke Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning's rookie record for most passing yards on opening day.

Other notable NFL records that Newton has broken this season, include:

• Most passing yards by a quarterback in the first two games (854 yards).
• Most passing yards by a rookie in a game (432 yards against the Green Bay Packers).
• First player in NFL history with at least five rushing touchdowns and five passing touchdowns in his first five games.
• First rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw for 10 touchdowns and run for 10 touchdowns in a season.

Newton is also on pace to break Peyton Manning's NFL record for most passing yards in a season by a rookie. Manning threw for 3,739 yards his rookie year. Newton is on pace to throw for 4,396 yards this season.