The Cam Newton vs. Josh Allen debate is over (for now)

The ongoing debate centering around former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and Josh Allen is over, at least for the time being. 

Cam Newton was trending on Twitter once again this weekend. This comes as no surprise given how popular the former Carolina Panthers quarterback remains despite not playing a competitive down in 2022.

However, this time felt different.

Following the Buffalo Bills’ playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, arguments resurfaced about Newton and Josh Allen. Just who is better and what this latest postseason failure means to the topic?

Debates like this are always fun and occur frequently among fans and analysts alike. Newton and Allen are compared thanks to their size and dual-threat ability – traits that rose each signal-caller into the truly elite group at one time or another.

Cam Newton’s accomplishments far outweigh Josh Allen’s

While both possess outstanding attributes, the debate on who is better appears moot after Allen failed to overcome a Bengals defense that was more than ready to make a significant difference.

For now, at least.

Newton might not have set the world alight over the two seasons prior to 2022. But that does not detract from his glittering list of accolades for the best part of a decade.

Heisman Trophy winner. National college football champion. No. 1 overall selection. Offensive Rookie of the Year. Offensive Player of the Year. 2015 NFL MVP. NFC champion. Three-time Pro Bowler. First-team All-Pro. Dozens of NFL records.

The list is endless.

While Allen has the better arm and might reach similar heights over time, he hasn’t accomplished anything like Newton has currently. That’s not to say he won’t, though.

One must also examine the weapons Allen has compared to Newton. Panthers fans were clamoring for years for a better offensive line or skill position players that could maximize a true franchise quarterback – which never came with any consistency and played a huge role in the former Auburn star succumbing to injuries over time.

Compare that to Allen, who has the benefit of Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, Dawson Knox, and a solid offensive line. Yet, the Wyoming product just cannot seem to get over the hump.

Newton’s personality transcended football. He remains a cultural icon and was the face of the NFL once upon a time – which Allen might never become thanks to players like Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes.

There are Panthers fans that will defend Newton right until death. Others are sick and tired of hearing about their old quarterback as they focus on the future.

Whichever side you’re on is irrelevant. There is no denying what Newton meant to the Panthers and his accomplishments far outweigh anything Allen’s managed so far, even though he is still just 26 years old.

The debate will rage on for as long as Allen is still performing at a high level. Whether the quarterback can get a ring of his own considering the wealth of exceptional young signal-callers in the AFC remains to be seen.

As for Newton, he has yet to formally announce his retirement. An opportunity to compete somewhere might emerge again, but once the legendary figure does call it a day, then another conversation will commence about the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And that will be the most heated of all.