NFL Rivalry: Cam Newton Gains, Then Loses NFL Record to Tom Brady

It is hard to imagine a more significant situation in any time in football history, high school, college or pro.

A rookie gains the league's all-time record for passing yards in the first two games of the season, then loses it to the master in short order. Cam Newton has had an incredible start. Almost eclipsing Tom Brady, the quarterback who could be the best in history so far. 

In fact, Brady and Newton have already tied one regular season record by passing for more than 400 yards in consecutive games, a record now shared with five other quarterbacks. They are both in the hunt for the NFL record next week.

Tom Brady, move over?

The statistics do show that Newton has a way to go to match Brady this season. His 854 yards are behind Brady's 940 yards by about 11 percent. If you include rushing yardage for the two players, the difference is minuscule: 921 yards to 946 yards. Within about 3 percent.

Also, the passing ratings of the two athletes are far more disparate, with Brady's 128 far better than Newton's 89.1. And Newton has lost his two games while Brady won both.

Two games cannot make a rivalry. But do they show the prospect of Brady, who has had no peer for some time, hearing footsteps? 

When Peyton Manning went down, we could only see a couple with promise. Adding a rookie puts pressure on Brady far more than on Newton. What seems clear is that Newton will improve. Can Brady keep up? 

Focusing only on Newton, the following significant rookie and all-time regular season records could be within his reach.

1. All-time and rookie touchdown passes (current records 50 and 26 by Tom Brady and Peyton Manning).

2. All-time and rookie yards gained (current records 5084 and 3739 by Dan Marino and Peyton Manning).

3. Most games 400 or more yards passing (current record 4 by Dan Marino).

4. Most games 300 or more yards passing (current record 10 by Rich Gannon and Drew Brees).

Newton is clearly on pace to take all of these records except the all-time touchdown passes currently held by Brady.

Will Newton gain another all-time quarterback record this year? Perhaps not.

But it will sure be fun watching.