CHARLOTTE — In most games this season, for the Panthers to have a chance, they had to run the ball exceptionally well.

Sunday, the Chiefs made sure they didn't.

And they still had a chance late, thanks in part to the trust they have built in that run game.

Chuba Hubbard was held far under his average rushing day but had the two runs that counted the most with a game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion in the final two minutes of the 30-27 loss to the Chiefs.

"We knew we were in a one-score game, and we had it in our hands; we just had to show up, and everyone did a great job," Hubbard said. "And then that two-point conversion was just our style of ball. We knew what play we were going to get. The O-line was ready for it. We were ready for it.

"Everyone just got amped up, and when everybody knows we can do it, it's almost like it's going to happen. You can think it; you can make it happen. So, it was a good play."

It just wasn't accompanied by as many as normal.

Hubbard was fourth in the league in rushing entering Sunday's game, with 161 carries for 818 yards.

But in the first half, the Chiefs sold out to stop the run, and he had two carries for 4 yards.

That began to turn in the second half — he finished with 58 yards on 16 carries — but he said the belief in the run game built over the course of the season created a sense of trust late when the Panthers needed to tie the game.

"I think we believe in the run game, regardless of how the game's going when we need it," Hubbard said. "We'll get it, we believe in that. Like I said, we knew what play call was going to get called. We're all ready for it.

"Everybody was in line and knew we were going to get it. It was a confident belief."

That kind of belief is built off what they've done so far this year, with an offensive line that's in the top 10 in both sacks allowed and rushing yards per attempt. And that came from the money spent on guards like Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, but over the course of the season, they've established a bit of identity with the ground game.

So that's why there was a clear sense of disappointment at not winning, while understanding a tremendous step was taken against the two-time defending champions.

"Obviously, it's good to see that we are growing, but we knew that the last two weeks when we won two games, you know what I mean?" Hunt said. "So this week, we're just coming and trying to win another one. I think that we know that we're growing. And if we win this game, we find out more about ourselves, and we just have to learn how to win. Do you know what I mean? Learn how to win games.

"You know, it's a long season; the games are different. The NFL is different, man. Each week is a different week. I do think that we are going in the right direction. Obviously, we're 3-8, we still got s--- to play for. But I think that this city and this organization is going right."

Of course, there are still things to work on — in addition to the result. The Panthers settled for four red zone field goals, and any one of those being a touchdown would have made a huge difference.

"Obviously I give them a respect, great team," Hubbard said. "But I think we've been making strides the last few weeks and obviously that's a great thing, but we play to win. That's a game, I think we should win and could win.

"So, we'll just keep getting better, keep chopping at the tree and look at the film, see the things that we could have did better and then fix it, just keep moving forward. But it's not a surprise to me or anyone in this locker room, we know we're capable of. Obviously, it hasn't shown up every single week, but we've been getting there slowly but surely. So, like I said, not a surprise."