New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com - Bush makes meaningful plays for Saints

By SHELDON MICKLES
Advocate sportswriter
Published: Oct 22, 2007

NEW ORLEANS — The stats sheet will show that running back Reggie Bush collected just 73 total yards from scrimmage in the New Orleans Saints’ 22-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

But sometimes, even the plays that don’t quite measure up in distance to some of the highlight-reel plays Bush has produced in his college and pro career are the ones that mean the most.

Like the 4 yards Bush gained on a swing pass from Drew Brees with 5:04 to play for the touchdown that erased a 16-14 deficit and provided the game-winning points.

Or the 2 yards that didn’t count after it on the two-point conversion that gave the Saints a six-point cushion and the Superdome faithful more reason to celebrate.

Both were maximum-effort plays that brought the house down and drew praise from Bush’s coaches and teammates. On the touchdown, Bush raced to the sideline and eluded a tackle by safety Jimmy Williams at the 2, then ran into cornerback Lewis Sanders at the Falcons’ 1.

Sanders appeared to have a bead on Bush until a quick spin and dive helped him reach the end zone. A jubilant Bush got up and fired the touchdown ball into the second level of seats in the Superdome, punctuating an 11-play, 69-yard drive.

“I just refused to go down,” said Bush, who had 54 rushing yards and 19 receiving yards in the Saints’ second straight win. “I just wanted to make a play for my team. That’s what it’s all about.”

Bush was asked if he knew that he was going to score when he came up to Sanders, who was squared up to the ball carrier.

“I didn’t know I was going to get away,” Bush said. “I just kept fighting, just kept my feet moving. I just refused to go down and I came up out of it. That was really it, I didn’t know I was going to come out of it.”

Several of his teammates had no doubt Bush was going to succeed on that play, especially after they saw him shake off Williams and get Sanders in a one-on-one situation.

“That’s what a pro does,” Saints fullback Mike Karney said. “It was a big play by Reggie, a ‘will’ effort. He could have gone out of bounds at the 2 or he could have fell down.

“But we needed a score and he did what he needed to do to get it,” he said. “He willed himself to the end zone and that was encouraging to the entire team. That was a big momentum swing for us.”

Seconds later, Bush ran for the two-point conversion on an end around, giving the Saints a six-point cushion and ensuring the Falcons could not tie them with a pair of late field goals.

“Reggie made some plays that backs normally can’t make,” said left guard Jamar Nesbit. “That’s one of the special qualities that he has.”

Brees, who completed 22 of 34 passes for 219 yards with two TDs and one interception, said the only thing he could think about was getting the ball to Bush as fast as he could.

“Obviously, he made a great effort there at the end of it,” Brees said. “It was just one of those ‘will not be denied’ plays where he had to get into the end zone — whatever it took.”

Considering all the highlights he’s had in his career, Bush said it ranked right up there with them.

“It was the last touchdown that helped us go up and win the game, so it definitely means a lot,” Bush said. “Not only to me, but I think the team as well.”

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