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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chuba Hubbard did not dwell on his previous game’s overtime fumble that led to a defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers three weeks ago. Instead, he focused on redeeming himself. “I didn’t beat myself up too much about it. I just told myself when the next opportunity comes, make the most of it,” Hubbard explained. He certainly did just that during Sunday’s match.
In a key performance, Hubbard scored a 21-yard touchdown in overtime, propelling the Carolina Panthers to a 36-30 victory and consequently eliminating the Arizona Cardinals from the playoff race. This game marked the conclusion of Carolina’s home schedule for the season, and Hubbard shone brightly, accumulating 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, falling just short of his career-high.
During the pivotal overtime drive, Hubbard made significant contributions, sprinting for 49 yards on two carries, utilizing a well-executed play called “duo” behind right guard Robert Hunt. This sequence included a crucial 28-yard run that positioned the Panthers in field goal range, followed by the game-winning touchdown where Hubbard broke through two defenders before reaching the end zone. “God’s timing is undefeated,” he remarked. “I’m just blessed to finish it the right way.”
Coach Dave Canales acknowledged Hubbard’s dedication and character. “It speaks to his character,” Canales stated. “That’s just who he is. He is just going to go right back to work, and we are just going to keep giving him the ball, especially in those types of moments. It was just a beautiful moment. It’s great redemption for Chuba, for sure.”
Quarterback Bryce Young also had a standout game, completing 17 out of 26 passes for 158 yards with two touchdowns and achieving a personal record of 68 rushing yards, including a 23-yard touchdown. Adam Thielen and David Moore each caught touchdown passes for the Panthers (4-11), which broke a four-game losing streak.
On the other side, Kyler Murray threw for 202 yards with a touchdown but was intercepted during the game. He also made a notable 20-yard touchdown run that helped the Cardinals (7-8) rally from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime. However, this performance wasn’t enough to secure a victory, as Arizona, which led the NFC West in early November, has since lost four out of their last five games.
James Conner put forth a solid effort, rushing for 117 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 49 yards before leaving the game with a knee injury in the third quarter. Murray added 63 yards on the ground. “It’s hard. It’s a learning process,” commented Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon regarding the team’s failure to make the postseason. “We’ve got to take good hard looks in the mirror and get better.”
The Panthers began the game strong, taking a 20-3 lead by scoring touchdowns on their first three drives, an impressive feat they hadn’t accomplished since December 2018. They capitalized on multiple mistakes made by the Cardinals. Carolina successfully converted on two fourth downs and benefited from a roughing-the-passer penalty against Arizona rookie linebacker Xavier Thomas, allowing Young to score a 4-yard touchdown run.
Mistakes plagued the Arizona offense as well. Center Hjalte Froholdt was penalized for holding on a crucial fourth-and-1 attempt at the Carolina 21, leading to just a 48-yard field goal from Chad Ryland. Young’s ability to scramble and score a touchdown kept the momentum for Carolina, and an errant snap recovery by the Panthers set up Young’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Thielen.
Arizona saw Conner’s efforts in the first half provide some comeback potential as he racked up 158 yards from scrimmage, scoring on a 6-yard run. Murray’s 1-yard touchdown pass to DeeJay Dallas just before halftime kept the game competitive at 20-17. The Panthers widened the gap to 30-20 with a beautifully placed pass from Young to Moore, but the game shifted again when Murray’s touchdown run brought the Cardinals within three points. His leadership culminated in a 35-yard drive that set up Ryland’s 58-yard field goal to tie the game at the end of regulation.
In overtime, the Cardinals attempted to go for a fourth-and-2 at the Carolina 18, with Michael Carter gaining a first down, but a crucial sack on Murray at his own 7 forced a punt, and the Panthers would retain possession until the end.
In terms of injury updates, the Cardinals faced several setbacks, with left tackle Paris Johnson out due to a knee injury, and right tackle Jonah Williams suffering a knee injury during the game. Also, linebacker Baron Browning and safety Joey Blunt exited in the second half. On the Panthers’ side, center Cade Mays was unable to play due to illness.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will face off against the Los Angeles Rams next Saturday, while the Panthers will head to Tampa Bay for their next game on Sunday.
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