We’re down to 88 days until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season with the Arizona Cardinals, which makes this 88-yard touchdown by Reggie Bush our pick for the Saints Play of the Day. Facing the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game with a Super Bowl bid on the line, Bush did his best to give the Saints a spark in the second half.
Trailing 16-7 and stuck on 2nd-and-5 from deep inside their own territory, Drew Brees dropped back to pass and found Bush streaking down the sideline on a wheel route. He chopped his feet at the top of the route and forced safety Danieal Manning into a bad pursuit angle, then took off with nothing but snowcapped grass in front of him. It was an exhilarating moment, and his frontflip at the end of it made it one of the most memorable touchdowns of Bush’s rookie year. You can see it all for yourself here.
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A John Carney extra point put the Saints in good position, 16-14, and the defense got a quick three-and-out on Chicago’s following possession. But the Saints couldn’t capitalize on this swing in momentum. Billy Cundiff missed a 47-yard field goal, Brees was fouled for intentional grounding from the New Orleans 5-yard line (resulting in a safety), and the Bears pulled away with a 21-point fourth quarter. An almost magical 2006 season came to a close for the Saints.
But this proved they were battle-ready. This was a team that could go the distance. And a few years later, they did; Bush and Brees took turns hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl XLIV a couple of seasons down the line. A more consistent performance from Sean Payton’s offense in 2006 may have made a big difference on that chilly day in January. But there’s something to be said for practicing patience.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints Play of the Day: Reggie Bush’s thrilling 88-yard TD vs. Bears