(Image Source: Pro Football Zone)

BY MOLLY HULSEY

ANCHOR EMILY SPAIN

He was the number one overall pick.

The critics said he wasn’t ready for prime time.

But Sunday afternoon, quarterback Cam Newton silenced those critics.

Newton shattered the NFL record for most passing yards in a debut game. In the same stadium where he won a National Championship with Auburn less than a year ago, Newton threw for 422 yards, two touchdowns - with another rushing touchdown - and only one interception. (Video: ESPN)

His record day impressed many analysts, including Fox Sports’ Erik Kramer, a former NFL quarterback.

ERIK KRAMER: “I’m just in awe. First of all, I’m in awe of any quarterback that’s 6’5”, 250 [lbs] and standing in the way of the blitz as a rookie and delivering. Poise under pressure is what stood out watching Cam Newton today. He delivered the ball accurately and on time, never looked rattled in this game. He had an interception, but by and large... what, 65, 70 percent of his passes he completed, and just never looked shaken.”

The Charlotte Observer noted the differences between Newton and other Panthers rookies of the past.

 “Sunday was the reason Carolina chose Newton with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Not trying to be mean, but last season’s rookie quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, often was overwhelmed. Normal rookies often are. Sunday is what hope feels like. Carolina football was fun again.”

Although his performance impressed ESPN’s Skip Bayless, the analyst is still skeptical.

Skip Bayless: “I was blown away. I didn’t even plan to watch much of this game, and I ended up watching every play of this game because I couldn’t take my eyes off that quarterback…”

Jay Crawford: “You’ve killed him for his accuracy, Skip, he was putting the ball in a window yesterday.”

Bayless: “Which is why I’m saying blip. Any human who’s watched Cam in college and the preseason would say, ‘Who is that guy?’ He had come and go accuracy all last year at Auburn, in the Championship game, it came and it went.”

Over at Sports Illustrated, Don Banks takes a look at the bigger picture, saying Sunday was about much more than just one game.

“Carolina's game at Arizona was one of the few times where you could realistically point to the performance of a single player and make the case that it was of even more importance than the final score. In Carolina, the new mantra just might be ‘In Cam We Trust.’”

The Panthers next test? A much tougher one, as Newton and Company take on the reigning Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.