The Carolina Panthers’ last visit to overtime wasn’t too kind to running back Chuba Hubbard. That nightmare came in Week 13, when the fourth-year rusher fumbled to help give the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a 26-23 win at Bank of America Stadium.
Sunday’s Week 16 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, however, gave Hubbard a chance at redemption—in the same time and same place. And this opportunity didn’t escape him.
Hubbard starred in this afternoon’s 36-30 triumph, rushing for 152 yards and two touchdowns. 49 of those 152 yards came on his team’s second possession in overtime, where he broke out a 28-yard run to set up his walk-off 21-yard run into the end zone.
He talked about bouncing back from his costly miscue three weeks ago.
“Obviously I was down in that moment, but I knew that I’d get another one and I’d do right by it,” Hubbard stated. “Just blessed, glad to finish the right way in the Bank.”
Despite that Week 13 fumble, Hubbard’s teammates never lost faith in their workhorse back. He talked about rewarding that trust as well.
“I’ve let it go, but it’s definitely been in the back of my head a little bit,” he added. “Like I said—when the next opportunity came, I told myself I’ma get it back for them. And to be able to have them trust me in that opportunity again and then have it end that way, just blessings of God.”
Hubbard has now rushed for 1,195 yards, the fourth-highest single-season total in franchise history, and 10 touchdowns through 15 games.
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