Rating: (0 votes - average)

Malcolm Jenkins saved Sean Payton from himself Sunday evening at Cowboys Stadium.

Payton succumbed to an old, bad habit, trying to force feed a rusty Reggie Bush into the plan when he had no business being on the field. The result could have been catastrophic for the Saints’ hopes of repeating as Super Bowl champions, winning the NFC South and even making the playoffs in the crowded NFC picture.

That’s where Jenkins stepped in. With New Orleans on the verge of blowing a game it led 17-0, he tracked down Dallas wide receiver Roy Williams as he was streaking for what would have been the clinching touchdown, ripped the ball away from him at the 11 and gave the Saints new life in the final minutes.

Drew Brees responded by leading an 89-yard touchdown drive as the Saints won 30-27 in a game they never would have been in position to lose without a pitiful performance from Bush.

Bush, coming off an eight-game layoff due to a broken fibula, was not ready to return in a meaningful contest. That fact should have been clear on his first snap, when he entered on third-and-5 at the New Orleans 26 and never looked for the ball when Brees threw a pass to him in the flat early in the second quarter. It bounced off his helmet, the Saints punted after scoring on their first three possessions and they began to lose control against the Cowboys.

Bush accelerated that process rapidly.

With the Saints leading 20-13 in the third quarter, he ran a delay route and was wide open in the middle of the field on third down from the Dallas 10. Brees hit him in the hands with no one in between him and the goal line.

Drop.

New Orleans settled for a field goal that made the score 23-13.

When the Saints stopped the Cowboys on their next possession, Payton decided to let Bush return his first punt since the injury. Bush did what he does more often than anything else – retreat. There’s a reason he finished second-to-last in the NFL in punt returns last season.

Then he did that other thing that happens too often – fumble.



READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE EXAMINER

Halo

I don't think he should have been doing returns the first day back after an 8 week offseason for injury.

Why do we slowly work Ivory in but Bush gets thrown to the wolves?

UK_WhoDat

And that there is Reggie Bush.

That writer has really gone off on one re: Bush. Or is it against Payton.

Yep we can simplify Bush into the 3 plays last night. But I feel that Bush is an unique Football player that causes great anxieties to opposing teams. I feel that the offense opens up when Bush is there. We need a fit and ready Bush.

niteadept

You and I wanted him out for some practice in the last game and a chance to ease back into the routine. Others wanted him kept on the sideline like some secret weapon. Sorry, after 8 weeks everyone would be rusty and then he's on TV at Dallas for his return?!! No one could see that this wasn't a grand idea?!! He wanted to do sooo much and he blew it. Ease back in Reggie! Most fans have short term memory problems anyway.....

Danno

I remember that conversation being about him being 100% healthy, not the fact that he'd be rusty.

In fact the entire conversation was about him not being 100% healthy and returning punts. I don't remember rust ever being mentioned.

Danno

Yet that never came up.

pherein

I bet if Bush were thrown to the wolves, the wolves would catch him.

niteadept

You say tomato and I say ppppffffttttt. Everything that was said and you only pick up the word rusty?! We are all Saints fans (or most of us anyway) so let the talking pundits dissect Bush and let Bush and the rest of the team get back on the practice field, do what they do and finish this season with another SB win. Enough said on this subject.

SAINT_MICHAEL

That first swing pass that hit him in the head was sort of a no-win situation too. If he had caught it he would have been nailed as soon as he did...maybe even had caused another fumble. No excuse on him dropping the potential TD pass though. I think Payton putting him back there to field that punt may have been his way of giving him a chance to make up for not catching that pass. I'm not saying I agree with that thinking, but it may have played into it.

lynwood

Nothing to really talk about. Bush didn't cost us or win us the game. Dallas played themselves back into it.