If his forwards won't or can't score the winning goals, then the England defender will.
Once again, the Premiership champions' captain popped up to score from a set-play to win vital points in Chelsea's quest for supremacy.
Last week he won the points against Middlesbrough on 60 minutes with a diving header.
Against surprise package Wigan, he decided to score the winning goal, again from a diving header but this time six minutes earlier.
But it's the six points earned that are keeping the Blues firmly at the helm of the league that will please him most and not his tally of goals.
Chelsea are finding that teams coming to Stamford Bridge are now not only defending deep but are also frustrating them and indulging in time-wasting tactics.
Wigan are showing themselves to be excellent examples of that particular art and it could easily have earned them a point.
Mind, they were helped by some poor decision-making from referee Howard Webb. The blatant miss of a penalty on 24 minutes was a classic example.
A free-kick into Wigan's area saw Terry arm-wrestled to the ground by Lee McCulloch - perfect for the Wigan Rugby League side but not for their football team.
Both Webb and the linesman missed the incident and that just served to infuriate Chelsea who dominated possession throughout.
Six minutes later Chelsea were prevented from scoring by excellent Wigan defensive play. A quick Asier del Horno free-kick wide on the left, saw Hernan Crespo's flicked, diving header from eight yards sail past goalkeeper Michael Pollitt.
But up popped left-back Leighton Baines to scoop the ball from the goal-line and to safety.
A Frank Lampard piledriver of a left footer a minute before half-time saw Pollitt again in the action and this time the former Rotherham United goalkeeper managed to get his gloves onto the goal-bound shot.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho replaced Damien Duff for Didier Drogba and the tall Ivory Coast striker did his best to unsettle the dogged Wigan defence.
Drogba was soon involved the action and, on 47 minutes, he received a fine clipped pass from Michael Essien and smashed a fierce right-footed half-volley towards goal. Pollitt, again saved well.
Terry decided enough was enough and his goal signalled the end of the game from an attacking perspective as Chelsea shut up shop and Wigan saw out play with their enhanced reputation intact.
MAN OF THE MATCH: John Terry (Chelsea) - Proved how vital he is to Chelsea and hopefully for England in The World Cup. From set-plays alone, he may be the difference between winning or drawing. He pulls the strings from defence and galvanises his team-mates to greater effort.