Chuba Hubbard ran 21 yards for an overtime touchdown and Bryce Young threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Carolina Panthers ended the Arizona Cardinals’ playoff prospects by winning their home finale 36-30 on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.

Hubbard, who had a 28-yard run on the play prior to his winning rush, compiled 152 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries as the Panthers (4-11) halted a four-game losing streak.

Young was 17-for-26 for 158 yards in the air and gained 68 yards on five rushing attempts.

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was 20-for-32 for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception as Arizona (7-8) was eliminated from playoff consideration.

James Conner gained 117 rushing yards on 15 carries before leaving with a knee injury and Chad Ryland booted three field goals, including a tying 58-yarder on the last play of regulation.

Arizona converted a fourth-and-2 from its own 18 in overtime, but then went backward and ended up punting from its own 4-yard line. Carolina won it two plays later.

Young’s second touchdown throw of the game went for 18 yards to David Moore, so Carolina held a 30-20 edge with 12:04 to play. That marked the most points for the Panthers with Young at quarterback in either of his two seasons.

Arizona used more than five minutes on the ensuing possession, scoring on Murray’s 20-yard run with 6:56 remaining.

The Cardinals got the ball back with 4:52 left following a Carolina punt. Three plays later after reaching Panthers territory, Demani Richardson intercepted Murray. It was the rookie’s first pick.

But Arizona got the ball back after a punt and moved 35 yards to set up Ryland’s third field goal.

Hubbard’s 4-yard run provided the game’s first points as Carolina completed a 15-play drive that lasted almost eight minutes in the first quarter.

Only Ryland’s 48-yard field goal gave Arizona much hope across the first seven minutes of the second quarter.

Young ran for a 23-yard touchdown on a drive that included a career-long 34-yard run. Less than four minutes later, following an Arizona fumble, Young tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen. The Panthers converted off the turnover by needing to go only 30 yards.

Trailing 20-3, the Cardinals went 70 yards in four plays with Conner scoring on a 6-yard run. They closed within 20-17 with Murray’s 1-yard flip to DeeJay Dallas with seven seconds to play in the first half.

Eddy Pineiro’s 29-yard field goal and Ryland’s 30-yarder in the third quarter kept the margin at three points entering the fourth.

Conner eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season.

–Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals consider themselves to be in a must-win situation across the final few weeks of the season.

And that will be so true on Sunday when they visit the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C.

“From here on out, we got to win them all and that’s our mindset going into everything,” Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams said. “But there’s definitely a heightened sense of urgency.”

The Cardinals (7-7) are flirting with NFC playoff position after halting a three-game losing streak with a 30-17 victory over the visiting New England Patriots last weekend.

The Panthers (3-11), who have lost four games in a row, hold the third-worst record in the NFL. Sunday will mark the team’s home finale.

“Here we go, we’ve got another challenge,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “They’re going to keep coming.”

Carolina lost tight games to divisional leaders Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia before dropping a 30-14 decision to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.

In Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon’s view, that turnover-ravaged result can be dismissed when assessing the Panthers.

“I think if you look, their last six games they’ve played really good ball,” Gannon said. “I think they’ve turned the corner. We’re going to have to play our brand of ball if we want to win.”

Carolina quarterback Bryce Young committed four turnovers against Dallas, but he had a strong stretch of outings leading into that game. Gannon said he sees creativity from the Panthers when it comes to using Young, a second-year quarterback.

“I think he has really taken a step forward with the play-making capabilities,” Gannon said. “Obviously, he’s mobile and that’s real.”

Yet Young’s gaffes last week have pushed his season totals to nine interceptions and eight touchdown throws. He has run for three touchdowns.

“I’m really hoping for Bryce to just take that next step, to execute the game plan,” Canales said. “To be special when called upon.”

The Cardinals made off-field moves that might bode well in the big picture, including in the final weeks of this season.

Safety Budda Baker, running back James Conner and center Hjalte Froholdt were given contract extensions. With those decisions, there’s a heightened level of buy-in for those players and the team. Baker has been a captain for five seasons.

“I think they help keep everybody in alignment and they’re premier players,” Gannon said. “And they’re good people, and that’s who we want to build the team around.”

Conner has rushed for a team-high 973 yards this year. He’s coming off a 110-yard outing at New England for his second-highest total of the season and his fifth time reaching 100 yards this year.

Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark earlier this month, but he was held to the second-lowest total of the season with 32 yards on the ground last week. Carolina running back Raheem Blackshear (chest) was a full practice participant Wednesday.

But Panthers linebackers Trevin Wallace and Claudin Cherelus are out for the season after going on injured reserve.

“It could be a great opportunity for (other) guys to get in there and see what they can do,” Canales said.

The Cardinals have adjusted their roster, notably on special teams. Kicker Matt Prater is eligible to return for the first time since Week 4 following knee surgery. Punter Michael Palardy was added to the roster.

–Field Level Media