Take a statistical overview of the generally agreed upon MVP candidates, and the outlier isn’t hard to spot.

Tom Brady’s there, at or near the top of most statistical categories at his position. Carson Palmer too. Cam Newton however, is a little farther down the list in traditional QB stats.

With just three weeks left in the season, Newton has 3,062 passing yards (16th in the league), 28 touchdowns (fourth) and a 96.9 quarterback rating (eighth). Even when you factor in his rushing stats (a position-leading 480 yards and seven touchdowns) and discount the questionable QB rating metrics, Newton’s numbers still don’t compare to the Brady’s, Palmer’s, or even Eli Manning’s of the league.

So why then is the Carolina Panthers arguably the front runner for MVP so late in the season?

The former first overall pick (2011) likely means more to his team’s offence than anyone else.

Hurney: Cam Newton has redefined the quarterback position

Former Carolina Panthers GM and Host of ESPN 730 in Charlotte Marty Hurney joined hosts Steve Simmons and Bruce Arthur to discuss the undefeated Carolina Panthers and the MVP-like play of Cam Newton.

While tight end Greg Olsen is a legit star, there isn’t much else for Newton to work with in Carolina this year. Budding star Kelvin Benjamin was lost for the year with a knee injury after his promising rookie season, leaving Newton to rely on the likes of Ted Ginn Jr. Jerricho Cotchery, and Devin Funchess in the passing game.

Ginn Jr’s average production prior to this season:  26 receptions for 337 yards and less than two touchdowns. Ginn’s production this year: 37 receptions, 645 yards, and eight touchdowns, including two monster games the past two weeks down the stretch.

As several Panthers, Dolphins, 49ers, and Cardinals fans have put it, Newton’s greatest accomplishment this year may very well be making Ginn Jr. look good.

Newton is also the most dangerous player in the MVP race. While he’s not the pocket passer Brady is, he’s improved in the pocket dramatically from earlier in his career and is now considered a very good passer in the traditional sense – especially throwing deep balls.

And he can run! There have been plenty of great running quarterbacks. None of them are Cam. He’s more like a second running back than any other because he runs both outside and between the tackles. While a typical running threat-QB can generally be nullified by a linebacker playing ‘QB spy,’ Newton’s ability to get the tough yards adds another dimension to the Panthers’ offence.

And with Newton capable of playing running back (being 6’5 and 245 pounds certainly helps), Carolina’s actual running back can act like another blocker on running plays. 

Then there is of course the undefeated record, Newton’s silver bullet against everyone that argues he doesn’t have the stats to merit the MVP award. Stats are nice, wins are better.

Newton may not win the MVP, but his campaign this year is doing wonders for everyone that argues stats aren’t everything.