The Carolina Panthers hosted their first Sunday Night Football game in 11 years. And they made it count by turning on the style to beat the Detroit Lions.
It was another big statement from head coach Dave Canales' squad. Their offense drew widespread plaudits, and the defense did just enough in crunch time to earn a memorable triumph at Bank of America Stadium.
And being 2-2 is a lot better than 1-3 at the bye week.
Still, a lot of hard work remains.
The bye is coming at a good time, giving the Panthers a chance to heal and take stock of what more may be required. But after such a disappointing loss to the Cleveland Browns, this was the confidence boost everyone needed.
It'll be interesting to see what the next fortnight holds for this team. Before then, here are five winners and three losers from Carolina's triumph over Detroit.
Winners and losers from the Carolina Panthers' prime-time success over the Detroit Lions
Winner No. 1
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers RB
Even though the Panthers clearly looked to capitalize on Detroit's vulnerable secondary, they needed a strong rushing performance down the stretch to close it out. With Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve, this responsibility fell almost solely on Chuba Hubbard to lead the charge.
He answered the call with his best performance in two years.
Hubbard was aggressive. He ran with purpose and had the conviction to exploit gaps with power and outstanding contact balance. And when he got into the open field, there was enough burst to break off big yardage.
The 2021 fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State gained 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns from 20 carries. Hubbard also caught one pass for seven yards, and his work as a pass blocker also caught the eye.
Anyone who was questioning Hubbard's importance to the team's plans got a big-time reminder.
Loser No. 1
Stone Forsythe - Carolina Panthers OT
When first-round rookie Monroe Freeling was forced off the field with a knee injury, every Panthers fan's fears were realized. Dave Canales had no choice but to throw Stone Forsythe into the fire, and it went as badly as everyone expected.
When Forsythe went to right tackle, Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson immediately switched sides. He tormented the veteran throughout the fourth quarter, giving Bryce Young less time in the pocket. The signal-caller saw it coming a mile away, moving away from the right-hand side whenever possible to give him a better chance of making plays.
The Panthers now have a bye week to rest and heal. Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton are still out, so they cannot afford to have Freeling on the shelf, too. If he is forced to miss time, general manager Dan Morgan needs to find a better alternative, because Forsythe is not up to the required standard.
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