CHARLOTTE — It wasn't even a month ago, that the Panthers were in overtime with a chance to win, and Chuba Hubbard fumbled.

That's the kind of memory that lingers, that can make you gun-shy, that can make them look the other way in critical moments.

But this iteration of the Carolina Panthers doesn't look away from their workhorse running back. They look toward him, for direction, for inspiration, and most importantly, for plays.

He did it Sunday, delivering the walk-off touchdown in overtime to close the home season on a high note, a 36-30 win over the Cardinals, which effectively erased the memory of that fumble against the Buccaneers on Dec. 1. But he might not have gotten that kind of chance, without the unwavering trust of those around him.

Asked to describe that trust, quarterback Bryce Young just needed one word.

"Complete," Young said with a grin, the expression on his face saying everything.

But that's what Hubbard means to this team, and it's why the organization extended him midseason, to set the standard for the way they want everyone to work, and everyone to respond.

"That's my dog," Young continued. "The thing that people don't see is how hard he works. Throughout the week, I can't even tell you when he leaves this place. He's constantly doing extra things, doing little things, constantly watching film, taking care of his body. He cares and gives so much to this game.

"And on top of the player he is, the person he is. The dedication that he has and the stuff that he shows that no one gets to see. That just continues to build on, just all of us, how much we trust him."

That kind of faith is the kind of thing that exists, even when you can't see it. Hubbard's a particular favorite of the offensive line here, because he shares their mentality, their approach, and the personality they want this team to have. They're head-down like he is, so they appreciate him in a particular way.

Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu was blocking in the other direction of the game-clinching play. He heard it before he saw it.

"I mean I was blocking my guy, I was on the backside of the play," Ekwonu said. "Then I kind of heard the crowd boom a little bit, so I was like, OK, our guy can separate.

"By the time I turned around, he was already down there in the end zone."

"When I looked up, because you know you don't really know what's going on, the crowd's roaring, and he was about to score," center Brady Christensen said. "It was the best feeling I've had for a while in football, it was incredible."

"It's pretty dope, man," right guard Robert Hunt said. "A walk-off, man, it's pretty exciting. I was happy for Chuba, man. I was really excited to see him do that."

The excitement was real, as the normally reserved Hubbard high-stepped his way into the end zone, the last of his 152 rushing yards coming with a flourish.

It was a huge departure from his last overtime experience, when they circled around him for a different reason, all of them talking in that low moment about what he meant.

So after the adrenaline ebbed, Hubbard was quiet, expressing gratitude for the opportunity.

"Obviously, I was down in that moment, but I knew that I'd get another one, and I'd do right by it," Hubbard said. "So just blessed, glad to finish the right way. I mean, I've let it (the Buccaneers game) go, but it's definitely been in the back of my mind. I had a little bit, like I said, when the next opportunity came, I told myself I'm going to get it back for them and to be able to have them trust me in that opportunity again."

Of course, at other times, overtime runs are designed to set up a field goal, but the Panthers have invested a certain amount of their persona in Hubbard, so they relish finishing with the ball in their hands.

"This is just the attitude type of game, type of finish we want to end on," Hubbard said. "Ending on our terms. And obviously all security was a big emphasis, so make sure I had two hands on the ball the whole time and everyone just blocked their asses off and I just made the right cuts."

Just like they knew he would.

Just like they expect him to.