The Carolina Panthers were not at their best against the New Orleans Saints, but they still got the job done. And while the performance was subpar at best, the result mattered most.
And to say veteran running back Chuba Hubbard carried them to victory would be a massive understatement.
Hubbard is enjoying a phenomenal campaign. The former Oklahoma State standout is firmly entrenched as the team's No. 1 running back, and he is leading from the front.
Chuba Hubbard willed Carolina Panthers to much-needed win over the Saints
With the Panthers struggling to generate any real momentum in a bad football game, they relied heavily on Hubbard to set the tone as Carolina's legitimate focal point.
Not for the first time this season, he delivered.
Hubbard looked in the mood for a big day from early on. The Panthers gave him a ton of carries in the first half, and the success he was getting against the Saints' defensive front was just enough for Carolina to hold a slender lead at the interval.
This trend continued throughout the clash. And when it looked as if the Panthers were doing their best to self-destruct down the stretch, Hubbard would not be denied.
Quarterback Bryce Young needed just two short completions to Hubbard, and the 2021 fourth-round selection did the rest, breaking off big runs before scoring a close-range touchdown.
Even that wasn't enough. But a game-winning field goal from kicker Ryan Fitzgerald as time expired iced the contest in Carolina's favor.
Chuba Hubbard's importance to the Carolina Panthers is growing every week
In all, Hubbard gained 172 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. He had 92 rushing yards and a score, while also catching five passes for 80 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Just an incredible performance from a player who's quickly becoming more indispensable than ever.
The Panthers do not win this game without Hubbard.
In fact, they don't come close.
He picked this team up and willed them to victory. There's no other way to describe it, and head coach Dave Canales must have been more relieved than anyone that Hubbard took it upon himself to end Carolina's three-game slide.
Football is a team game, of course. But sometimes, all it takes is one player to completely turn a game on its head.
In Week 10, it was Hubbard.
And somehow, the Panthers are still leading the NFC South at 4-5.
Things looked bleak for Hubbard this time last year. He dealt with an injury and lost his starting spot to Rico Dowdle, so it's not hard to see why optimism about his outlook wasn't exactly high.
But he is a strong character. Hubbard got his job back, played well enough for the Panthers not to extend Dowdle, and he is the true backfield alpha with growing influence.
And the Panthers are lucky to have Hubbard, who proved just how critical he'll be to a turnaround over their remaining eight games.
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