CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP) Cam Newton is learning he doesn't have to do it all for the Carolina Panthers.
And the Panthers are winning games as a result. Eight straight, as a matter of fact.
Coach Ron Rivera said Carolina's dynamic and athletically gifted third-year quarterback no longer feels he has to make all of the plays on offense, and has developed a trust in his teammates.
He said that trust started late last season when the Panthers closed by winning five of six games. It has carried over to 2013.
"You got a sense the first season and a half he was trying to put a lot on his own shoulders and trying to handle everything by himself," Rivera said. "I think he's learned to trust his teammates and the guys around him and not feel pressed to do everything. And I think that's a big reason why he's having success."
For the first time under Newton, the Panthers are embarking on a meaningful span of December games. Carolina enters Sunday's showdown at New Orleans with sole possession of first place in the NFC South on the line.
The Panthers, at 9-3, have already won more games than they did in 2011 and 2012 despite Newton's yardage numbers being on the decline. He's on pace to throw for 3,488 yards and rush for 596 yards, down from his averages of 3,960 and 724 in his first two seasons.
He's letting others share the workload.
"When you have the type of talent that Cam has, you can really take over a game at any second, so you can't blame him for trying to do that," wide receiver Brandon LaFell said. "But at the end of last year you could see he started to trust us more as receivers. He put the ball up and let us go make plays. He was getting the ball in our hands quick and letting us run with it."
There are other factors that have played into Carolina's success.
It helps that coordinator Sean McDermott's defense is the stingiest in the NFL, allowing just 13 points per game while creating 26 turnovers, often giving Newton and the offense good starting field position.
But there's no denying Newton has played a huge role in Carolina's turnaround.
He's spreading the ball around. The Panthers have six receivers with at least 19 receptions. No Carolina receiver ranks in the top 35 in yards receiving.
"I think that is what makes us unique," Newton said. "As an offense you don't want to key on two or three players. I feel as if any number of players on this offense can have a hell of a game."
Rivera said when the Panthers were scouting Newton with the No. 1 overall pick he talked to a number of university coaches. He said they all told him the same thing: Auburn was a mediocre team that season without Newton simply because of his athletic ability. That impressed Rivera considering Newton only played one year of top level college football.
If Newton could do that without much coaching, what was he capable of when he had a few years to learn the same offensive system?
"When Cam burst on to the scene in 2011 he was making plays based on his ability more so than knowing what he was really truly doing," Rivera said. "Now he feels that he has confidence in himself and his teammates."
Don't let Newton's numbers fool you though.
It's not as if the 6-foot-5, 245-pound (1.96-meter, 111-kilogram) Newton isn't turning in highlight reel plays on a weekly basis. He's still a big part of the offense and has led the team in rushing in each of the last three weeks.
"His development inside the offense and understanding the concepts of what we do and understanding the opponent and how to attack them" has improved, Rivera said. "He's learned so much in three seasons."