Newton, Panthers beat Bucs 38-10, clinch NFC’s No. 1 seed

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Bruce Carter (50) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone) Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Bruce Carter (50) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

By Associated Press January 3, 2016 1 min read

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Cam Newton ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more, and the Carolina Panthers captured the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time in their history with a 38-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Newton tied Steve Young’s NFL record for most career TDs rushing by a quarterback with 43. Young took 15 seasons to reach that plateau; Newton did it in five.

Newton completed 21 of 26 passes for 293 yards as Carolina (15-1) overcame a slow start to build a 31-3 lead in the third quarter.

Rookie Devin Funchess had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown and Cameron Artis-Payne ran for 44 yards and a score as Carolina won its 11th straight home game.

Jameis Winston was intercepted twice, and the Bucs (6-10) finished last in the NFC South for the fourth time in five years.