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ATLANTA - A week after exchanging words with Coach Sean Payton on the sideline, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush did his talking on the field Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

Bush perhaps played his best all-around game of the season, accounting for 102 all-purpose yards and scoring twice to lead the 13-0 Saints to a 26-23 win and securing a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Bush scored on passes of 6 and 21 yards from quarterback Drew Brees, who also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Marques Colston.

Bush earned his first touchdown, lunging the final few yards into the right front pylon in the second quarter. On the second one, he turned a screen pass into one of the easiest touchdowns of his career, scoring untouched with the aid of an escort from three offensive linemen into the end zone in the third quarter.

Those scoring plays extended the Saints lead to 23-9, and they would need every point on this day as the 6-7 Falcons put up a fight to the final minute.

“Any one of you guys could have scored that touchdown (on the screen pass) it was so open, so I don’t want to take too much credit for that touchdown,’’ Bush told reporters. “It was the right call at the right time and I think a lot of that credit goes to Coach Payton on that play. They were kind of all-out blitzing and just left me and the linemen to score the touchdown.’’

Payton and Bush both attempted to downplay their sideline exchange caught on TV eight days ago against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., saying there was much ado about nothing.

“I yell at a player probably about 10 times a game, and when I yell at Reggie Bush, it’s national news,’’ Payton said.

“Honestly, Sean gets on everybody,’’ Bush said. “It’s not just me. But I understand that you guys like to single me out. That’s fine; I can take that.

“But Coach Payton, he gets on everybody. Sometimes we yell back, sometimes we don’t. It’s just one of those father-son relationships between me and him and pretty much anybody else on the team. If you mess up, you can expect to get yelled at. Even if it’s not your fault, you can still expect to get yelled at.’’

Payton had nothing but praise for Bush afterward, and with good reason.

Bush averaged 7.9 yards on 13 touches, rushing six times for 33 yards (a long of 19), catching all six passes thrown in his direction for 46 yards (a long of 21) and returning a punt for a season-long 23 yards.

Throughout the game, he made Falcons’ defenders miss, displaying some of the moves that won him the 2005 Heisman Trophy at Southern Cal and later prompted Saints officials to make him the second overall pick in the 2006 draft.

“I felt good today,’’ Bush said. “I felt good last week. I felt good the week before. I’ve been good for awhile and the (left) knee feels great.

“It was good to finally get a decent punt return today. We’ve been struggling as a punt return unit the last couple of weeks. But it felt good, not just for me but completely as a unit. I felt like I had some good runs in there. I probably could have been better, I don’t know. Once I look at the film I’ll be able to tell, but it was a good solid running game day for the running back corps as a unit.’’

MILESTONES

Saints quarterback Drew Brees reached several milestones Sunday.

- He now has passed for 30,090 yards to become the 33rd quarterback in NFL history to hit the 30,000-yard mark.

- His three touchdown passes against the Falcons give him 200 for his career, including 120 as a Saint, tying him with Aaron Brooks for the franchise lead. Brees is the 30th quarterback in NFL history to reach 200.

QUICK HITS

- The Saints have scored a franchise high 466 points through 13 games, eclipsing the previous best of 463 set last year. They have to average 41.3 points over their last three games to eclipse the NFL single-season scoring record of 589 points by the 2007 New England Patriots.

- The Saints earned their second first-round bye in team history, their first one coming in 2006 also under Payton.

ScottF

Although I don't see Bush coming back next year, I'll throw in two observations from yesterday:

1- The guy just knows where the endzone is. How many times have we seen him flip, stretch, dive, or reach for the pylon? He always finds that extra foot or three

2- At the game yesterday well over half the Saint jerseys I saw were #25. Even as a role player he has a huge fan base and appeal.

I would love to sign him to a one-year deal with huge incentives and then see if we still want him in 2011

Budsdrinker

Bush isn't going anywhere!

exile

I have to agree with this statement. I don't see the Saints letting him walk and he knows that he has the QB here to win many ballgames. We'll see though.

I did see SP rip into Grant this game as well. It was interesting to see the big man just take it.

woody

the only bad thing i see about him is durability, i wish he could stay healthy.

Suavecito8

I feel that reggie will be here next year and beyond. Wrap your heads around this. He has a total of 8 touchdowns this season with the limited amount of touches he has had this season and games missed i think that is fantastic. dude is nowhere near a bust not even ****ing close and if one of you guys think he is then go look at leaf, smith, couch, etc. etc. etc. those are bust. players that make plays and are tied for second on the team for touchdowns is not a bust. he has been inconsitent at times and not healthy but when he is on his game dude is a beast and wants to win. what more could you ask of a player?

ScottF

consistency
surehandedness
running north south
staying healthy
less than 8 million. Way less

Srgt. Hulka

As well as he played yesterday, I think all he needs before the game is a little a$$ chewing. He seems to be like a kid. You stay on their behind, you can get some work out of them. You slack off, you get nothing. If Sean keeps the pressure on him, Bush will keep playing like he did yesterday.

roughneck85

i agree with ya scott

homerj07

I don't see Reggie with the team next year. He will get more money (from someone else) than he is worth.

Oh just like we are doing now. I agree he is a dynamic player BUT what else could we get with the money we are spendin gon him. Another linebacker or two or other defensive help.