Cam Newton locks up MVP as Panthers move to 14-0 in thrilling win

Cam Newton, MVP. Get used to that.

Mark it down. The race is over. If there was a question before, Newton’s final-minute drive to pull out a thrilling 38-35 win over the New York Giants as time expired and save the Panthers' perfect season should lock it up.

The Panthers were on the verge of an epic collapse, as the Giants stormed back from down 35-7 to tie it in the final two minutes. The Panthers' undefeated dreams looked like they would die with a terrible loss at the Giants.

But Newton, who had an unbelievable game, had time. He hit Fozzy Whittaker for 9 yards and Greg Olsen for 16. After a timeout, Newton completed a pass to Ted Ginn for 12. Then he rushed for 10, and the Panthers kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired.

Newton threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns, and rushed for 100 yards. For those who don’t think Newton’s numbers are good enough to be MVP, Sunday's performance should end that talk. And his team is now 14-0.

Before Newton’s big plays on the final drive, it looked like the Giants would be the team making history on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers came back from 28 points down in 1980 to beat the New Orleans Saints. That was (and still is, after the Giants lost) the biggest comeback in regular-season history. The Buffalo Bills famously came back to win in overtime after falling behind 35-3 to the Houston Texans in the playoffs at the end of the 1992 season.

The Panthers were in total control at 35-7. Giants receiver Odell Beckham was melting down and fighting with Panthers cornerback Josh Norman. The Panthers were marching to 14-0. Then the Giants got going, with a few mistakes from the Panthers like a blocked field goal and a fumbled handoff on an option play by Newton. Beckham got his revenge with a touchdown in the final two minutes to tie it, and made a point of stepping over Norman after he got up in the end zone.

And with all the momentum on the Giants' side, Newton pulled out an amazing win.

The Panthers are the fourth team in NFL history to start at least 14-0, joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins, 2007 New England Patriots and 2009 Indianapolis Colts. And their star quarterback locked up his first MVP on Sunday as well.