SAN JOSE (WBTV and WYFF) —Newton wins NFL MVP award

Cam Newton has won The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award in a landslide.

The Carolina Panthers’ All-Pro quarterback, who will lead his team in Sunday’s Super Bowl against Denver, received 48 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the league. Fellow QBs Tom Brady, a two-time MVP, and Carson Palmer each got one vote.

In his fifth pro season, Newton also earned Offensive Player of the Year. In 2011, he was the league’s top offensive rookie.

Newton set an NFL mark for the position with 45 touchdowns this season: 35 passing and 10 rushing. He also ranked sixth in passer rating (99.4) while throwing for 3,837 yards. His 636 yards on the ground easily led all QBs, and the 10 touchdowns rushing were more than All-Pro running back Doug Martin of Tampa Bay scored.

Rivera wins NFL Coach of the Year

Ron Rivera has won The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award for the second time in three years.

Rivera led the Carolina Panthers to an unprecedented third straight NFC South title and two playoff victories. He has the Panthers in the Super Bowl with a 17-1 record; they face the Denver Broncos on Sunday for the championship.

In a season featuring several outstanding coaching jobs, Rivera easily outdistanced the field. He received 36 1-2 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the league. That was far in front of Kansas City’s Andy Reid with six votes.

Rivera has a career mark of 50-34-1.

The only other Panthers coach to win the award was Dom Capers in 1996.

Rivera was presented the award Saturday night during the NFL Honors show and accepted in a video.

Newton wins NFL Offensive Player of the Year

Cam Newton’s spectacular season has earned him The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.

The Carolina Panthers’ All-Pro quarterback set an NFL mark for the position with 45 touchdowns this season: 35 passing and 10 rushing. He also ranked sixth in passer rating (99.4) while throwing for 3,837 yards. His 636 yards on the ground easily led all QBs, and the 10 touchdowns rushing were more than All-Pro running back Doug Martin of Tampa Bay scored.

Those numbers – and, of course, leading the Panthers to a league-best 15-1 record in 2015 – earned Newton 18 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the NFL. Steelers receiver Antonio Brown was next with 10 votes.

The victory for Newton, the first Panther to win the award, was announced Saturday night during NFL Honors.