Chuba Hubbard key to struggling Carolina Panthers (admittedly rare) NFL wins
Canadian-Nigerian running back Chuba Hubbard was the outstanding African player in week 16 of the NFL season, with his two touchdowns again the difference between victory and defeat for the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers' 36-30 overtime triumph over the Arizona Cardinals was their fourth of the season, and all but the first of them would not have been possible but for Hubbard's crucial touchdowns.
Week 16 was arguably the most productive of the season for players with African roots. Gus Edwards and Olamide Zaccheaus scored two touchdowns apiece themselves, while several other players scored at least one and there were sacks and big hits galore from African players on defense.
African Player of the Week: Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers)
Hubbard takes Player of the Week because not only did he score two touchdowns, but also gained 165 yards for the Panthers - 152 rushing yards and 13 receiving yards.
Hubbard both started and ended the scoring for the game. His first touchdown was a four-yard run with less than five minutes left in the first quarter to break the deadlock. His second was the one that clinched the win - a 21-yard run in first overtime.
The former Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year with Oklahoma State had chipped away at the Cardinals' defense throughout the game, including on his first touchdown drive. His first touchdown demonstrated his dexterity with his feet as he spun through a sea of bodies to score. However, it was on the last drive of the game that he truly showcased his brilliance.
Hubbard burst through a gap in the defense to make up 28 yards to start the drive. Then, he finished the job off by spotting another gap and prancing into the corner to seal the win.
Not only does he have a total of 10 touchdowns for the season, but many of them have come at crucial moments for the Panthers. Hubbard scored two in a 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints and one in a 20-17 overtime triumph over the New York Giants.
African Moment of the Week: Olamide Zaccheaus (Washington Commanders)
Zaccheaus, who grew up in New Jersey but who has credited his Nigerian mother as his major source of inspiration in life, had a cracking game for the Washington Commanders as they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33.
The wide receiver's back-to-back fourth quarter touchdowns turned the game on its head and inspired a fightback from 27-14 down.
His second touchdown off a 49-yard Jayden Daniels pass saw him position himself perfectly for the catch, huggling the touchline before weaving his way through two attempted tackles for a touchdown which put the Commanders in front for the first time in the game.
Although they would once again fall behind, the Commanders would once again come back to seal the win in the final minute of the game. Had it not been for the brilliance of Zaccheaus early in the fourth quarter, they would not have been in contention by the end of it.
Honorable Mentions
Liberia's Gus Edwards was another African player with two touchdowns in week 16 in the LA Chargers' 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos.
Among other players of African descent, Jaxon Smith-Njigba's touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks against the Minnesota Vikings and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine's for the Tennessee Titans against the Indianapolis Colts did not result in victory, as both players ended up on the losing sides.
Guinea-born Liberian Kwity Paye got a sack for the Colts, meanwhile, with other African NFL stars also having strong defensive weeks.
Matt Judon, who has ties to Burundi, got an interception and a sack for the Atlanta Falcons in their 34-7 win over the New York Giants. Ifeatu Melifonwu, who is of Nigerian descent, also picked up a sack as his Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears 34-17.
Meanwhile, YaYa Diaby (Guinean descent) and Nnamdi Madubuike (Nigerian descent) each picked up half a sack. Madubuike's Baltimore Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17 while Diaby's Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 26-24 to the Dallas Cowboys despite his hard work and Christian Izien's 13 tackles.
Africa-Born Player Watch
Edwards and Paye were among the players born in Africa to deliver big moments in week 16, but they were not alone.
Lagos-born Joseph Ossai got a sack for the Cincinnati Bengals in their 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns, while Abidjan-born Kader Kohou picked up an interception for the Miami Dolphins in their 29-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Edwards' Chargers, Paye's Colts, Ossai's Bengals and Kohou's Dolphins are all fighting for playoff spots in the AFC with two weeks to go in the regular season, so they could hardly have stepped up at more crucial moments.br/]
