NFL: Panthers eliminate Cardinals from playoffs

CHARLOTTE, NC (AP):

Chuba Hubbard didn’t sulk after his fumble in overtime three weeks ago in front of home crowd cost the Carolina Panthers a win against the rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But the memory of letting his teammates down was never far from his mind.

“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 said.

He did just that on Sunday.

Hubbard ran for a 21-yard touchdown in overtime, and the Panthers eliminated the Arizona Cardinals from playoff contention with a 36-30 victory, capping a brilliant day for the fourth-year running back in Carolina’s final home game of the season.

Hubbard finished with 152 yards – one shy of his career high – and two TDs on 25 carries.

He rushed for 49 yards on two carries on the decisive drive in OT on the same bread-and-butter play behind right guard Robert Hunt called “duo” – a 28-yard scamper to get his team into field goal range and then the game-winner, in which he broke two tackles before racing to the end zone.

“God’s timing is undefeated,” Hubbard said. “I’m just blessed to finish it the right way.”

Panthers coach Dave Canales praised Hubbard for his work ethic.

“It speaks to his character,” Canales said. “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 is great redemption for Chuba, for sure.”

Bryce Young went 17 of 26 for 158 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a career-best 68 yards, including 23-yard score, as the Panthers (4-11) snapped a four-game skid. Adam Thielen and David Moore had TD catches.

Kyler Murray threw for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and his 20-yard TD run helped rally Arizona (7-8) from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force the extra period. But it wasn’t enough for the Cardinals, who led the NFC West in early November but have lost four of five since.

James Conner rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 49 yards before leaving in the third quarter with a knee injury – one of several injuries for Arizona. Murray had 63 yards on the ground.

“It’s hard. It’s a learning process,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said of missing the postseason. “We’ve got to take good, hard looks in the mirror and get better.”

The Panthers built a 20-3 lead by scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions – the first time they have done that since December 30, 2018. They benefited from a host of Arizona mistakes.