TAMPA - Wham. Bam. Thank you, Cam.

Thanks once again for making the Carolina Panthers' season so darn fun to watch, because by this time last year we had all lost interest.

Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton slammed his way to three rushing touchdowns Sunday - all from 1 yard away - to pace Carolina's easiest win of the season. The Panthers doubled up Tampa Bay, pasting the Buccaneers by a 38-19 score on the road.

Tampa Bay's players were left to dust themselves off and wonder about that truck with the license plate "No. 1" that had just run over them.

You don't expect your quarterback to be your best short-yardage running back. But that's what Newton is - as well as the best red-zone running quarterback in NFL history. Newton made that official Sunday by surpassing Steve Grogan's single-season record of 12 rushing TDs by a quarterback, pushing his total to 13 TDs with those three 1-yard scores.

Newton also threw for a fourth TD and caught a 27-yard pass on which he nearly scored just for good measure, showing that his Superman post-touchdown celebration has more than a grain of truth to it.

"During the draft," Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams said of his quarterback, "everybody said all the things he can't do instead of the things he can do. I think we tailored to his strength here. He makes us better as a team and catapults us to a whole other level."

Newton, 22, is one of those rare NFL players whom other NFL players want to see play. Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Johnson was thrust into the starting role for his team at the last minute Sunday. Johnson had a lot to go over on the sideline after each possession. But he kept getting distracted by Newton's performance.

"When I wasn't in, I was watching him, I'm not going to lie," Johnson said. "You like watching certain guys that are talented."

As Newton's season has progressed, his eye-popping pass yardage numbers have gone down a little. But his maturity level has gone up. Newton is no longer throwing for 300 yards or more in every game - the Panthers (4-8) are running the ball more effectively and more often now. But no longer is he moping as long after losses or taking as long to recover.

"He hasn't been throwing for 400 yards, but he's actually getting better in the pocket," Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross said Sunday. "And he's getting to be a better leader off the field. I think he is understanding how he affects the team. His circle of influence is big as a quarterback."

When asked about the significance of breaking Grogan's 35-year-old record Sunday, Newton said it meant something to him.

"It does," Newton said. "I'm not going to sit up here and lie. But I'm not focusing on individualism in this game because it's still 11-on-11. ... Most importantly, the other five guys that are blocking their tails off each and every snap."

Newton played a nearly flawless game against Tampa Bay. Some numbers: He was turnover-free - the Panthers are 0-8 when he commits at least one turnover and 4-0 when he doesn't. He threw for 204 yards with a 19-yard touchdown to Legedu Naanee. His passer rating was 106.1. He led the Panthers to a season high in points and on three TD drives of 80 yards or longer.

Still, Newton bemoaned one opportunity lost. He had single coverage on a deep route to Steve Smith - who had a quiet game - and didn't get the ball to No. 89. "I'm kicking myself for missing that one to [Smith] later in the game," Newton said. "I have to make those throws."

As for the runs, Newton was nearly unstoppable. He had 14 carries for 54 yards. On one drive, he carried the final three plays before scoring. "In certain situations, you do want the ball in your best player's hands," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said.

The dark side of all this running, of course, is the possibility of injury. Newton believes he's safer running in the open field than in the pocket, however, where the possibility of a blindside hit always looms.

The Panthers actually played some good defense to support him Sunday, which is why the margin was so impressive. But make no mistake. It was Newton's show once again.

"When Cam's full of energy and working, everyone is," Gross said.

Newton was doing both Sunday. The rushing record was one of the first NFL marks Newton has set that applied to all NFL players, not just the rookie subset.

But it will be far from the last. No. 1 will be dazzling for many Decembers to come. And for that, all of us who love to watch football played at a high level - including opposing quarterbacks like Josh Johnson - should be grateful.