Reggie Bush played in his first game since missing the previous two with a bone bruise in his right knee. Sean Payton told Fox broadcasters he wanted to limit Bush to 20 snaps in the game, but Payton clearly grew frustrated with Bush near the end of the first half. First, Bush took a screen pass and nonchalantly stepped out of bounds short of the first down after a nine-yard gain. The Saints subsequently failed to convert the first down when Bush was tackled for a loss on third-and-1.
Later, Bush was blown up and knocked off his feet by Brian Orapko as he attempted to run a route on a screen pass in the right flat, resulting in an incomplete pass. The play prompted Payton to demonstratively motion to Thomas to go into the game and replace Bush. Fox cameras caught Payton addressing an emotional Bush on the sidelines after the play. It was the 10th snap of the half for Bush but it looked like substitution was rooted in Payton's dissatisfaction with Bush's performance rather than his concern over snap counts. In fact, Bush did not play again until the final 30 seconds of the game, when Payton inserted him in the two-minute offense. Thomas replaced Bush in the two-minute offense on the previous series, which resulted in a game-tying touchdown catch by Robert Meachem.
Bush finished with 16 total reps, including one punt return for a loss of 2 yards.
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