ATLANTA — The first play call Miles Sanders heard wasn't what he was anticipating or wanting.

By the time they went to the huddle, the call that he heard was something he'd been waiting to hear — for long stretches of two difficult years.

The words "12 Duo" are simple and to the point, just like Sanders' game-winning touchdown Sunday in Atlanta, which capped off a 116-yard-from-scrimmage day.

"Well, the play before was a was a pass play, and I saw there was 1 yard and I asked the ref, I said, we score do we win?" Sanders said. "He said yes. I looked at the sideline and just said some curse words, and then they switched it up, so they trusted me to get the ball in."

That triggered a celebration, the kind you don't often see from a 5-12 football team. But for the Panthers in general, and Sanders in particular, there hasn't been as much to celebrate.

Signed here as a free agent in March 2023, the original plan was for Sanders to be the bell cow and for him to be the linchpin of the offense coach Frank Reich was installing. Neither the offense nor Reich's era lasted until the end of the season, and by the end of it, he was backing up Chuba Hubbard and getting the leftover work.

This year, he mostly watched Hubbard, and waited. But then a high-ankle sprain in Germany cost him a six-week stint on injured reserve, and there was no way of knowing he'd get back on the field at all.

But with Hubbard injured two weeks ago, there was a crack in the door, and Sanders ran through it, telling his coach after the final practice of the week he was ready.

"Unbelievable to have Miles Sanders back in there," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. "For Miles to battle back, you know, to get here to this game, just how special that was, and I could feel it in the week. Just a smile that it brought the whole group when he was in the huddle.

"And then just a moment on Friday, he comes over and says 'coach, I'm playing.' And you just could feel what it what it meant to him to be out there with his teammates that was special."

There was a tinge of defiance, or at least pride in Sanders' post-game remarks, because he never lost the confidence he could still be the kind of back who ran for 1,269 yards in Philadelphia the year before he arrived.

And he made several mentions after the game of "I don't need to be on the sidelines," but he was also excited to have the chance to make that statement. He also had a 33-yard touchdown reception early in the shootout, showing the kind of skills and a receiver he brings to the table.

"I've just got to go finish this thing right," Sanders said. "Like I told you, if I'm able to play, I want to be out there, and it happened to be the last game of the season. We tried to shoot for the third-to-last game, but my ankle wasn't ready. I told him straight up during practice on Friday, and I'm just happy it ended the way it was."

No one was happier for Sanders than the guy who got most of the work all year.

"I can't put it into words," Hubbard said, a huge grin on his face while talking about the guy at the next locker. "Just really all the adversity and everything he's had to fight through the last year or two or however long you want to look at it. The thing about Miles is he just continued to work, a great leader and a great teammate this year. But one thing we pride ourselves on, especially in the running back room, is just to keep working, keep working, and when the shot comes, take it.

"So to see him ball out like I know he can and win the game for us was amazing."

And because that's the personality the Panthers want to cultivate around here, it was that much sweeter.

An offensive line playing without right guard Robert Hunt dreams of plays like that, of ending games in overtime without the opponent touching the ball, and ending it on the ground.

"Put it on us, put it on us," left tackle Ikem Ekwonu said. "We just wanted to finish it the right way, just to show the team that they can rely on the O-line to get stuff and finish when we need to, and I feel like we got the job done.

"I mean, we know the type of player Miles is. He fought for us to get back on that field, so him getting that touchdown, the effort was rewarded."

Of course, there's also some uncertainty about what comes next.

The Panthers committed to Hubbard this year, giving their lead back a lucrative contract extension which carries him through 2028. With drafting Jonathon Brooks in the second round, Sanders' future here was very much in doubt. But the rookie tore his ACL in December, putting his 2025 season in doubt.

So, as much as Sanders might have been auditioning for the rest of the league, he's stating his case to come back here next year as well and pair with Hubbard.

"I would love to stay here, that's what I got to say," Sanders said. "I wanted this to be the tandem from the jump since I got here, so we'll see, we'll see."

The future will take care of itself.

Sunday night, Sanders eventually heard the call he wanted, and for a moment all the work and frustration disappeared into the celebration.