83 Days to Kickoff, But Reggie Bush's 83-Yard Punt Return Is What You NEED To See Right Now

Alright, 12s, listen up! We're counting down, right? Just 83 days left until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2026 season against the Detroit Lions. Eighty-three days, man! And what better way to pump ourselves up for some NFL action than to dive back into a classic play, one that still makes you jump out of your seat? We're talking Reggie Bush, an 83-yard punt return touchdown that Yahoo Sports just dropped as their Saints Play of the Day. This isn't just some highlight reel fluff, fam, this was a game-changer back in the day, a play that absolutely put a dagger in the Arizona Cardinals' hearts in the 2009 playoffs. You gotta feel that energy, even all these years later.

The Play That Ended a Comeback Threat

Picture this: mid-third quarter, 2009 playoffs. The Saints are up big, 38-14, thanks in part to Bush's own 46-yard touchdown run earlier in the game. You're thinking, "Game over, right?" NOPE. Not when Kurt Warner is on the other side. This guy, just a week before, had outdueled a young Aaron Rodgers in a wild 51-45 overtime win. He'd even led Arizona to the Super Bowl the previous year. That Cardinals comeback threat was as real as the rain in the Emerald City, you know? The Saints had to shut it down, hard. And that's exactly what Reggie Bush did. He took that punt, saw the opening, and absolutely

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sprinted for 83 yards, taking it to the house. Boom! Just like that, the score was 45-14. Any whispers of a comeback? Gone. The fourth quarter was quiet, just the way you want it when you're headed to Super Bowl XLIV.

Shutting Down the Doubters

This wasn't just a big play in a random game, this was *essential* for New Orleans. Heading into those playoffs, the Saints were facing some serious criticism. Yeah, they'd started 13-0 and locked up the NFC's first seed, but then they lost their last three regular season games. Everyone was talking. Was their hot start a fluke? Were they peaking too early? The Arizona Cardinals, coming off that epic win over Rodgers, were a hot pick to unseat them. Doubts were swirling harder than seagulls over T-Mobile Park. But Bush's play, man, that punt return and the overall beatdown the Saints put on the Cardinals, it just evaporated all those questions. It was a statement. The Saints came in and brought the hammer down. Or, as Reggie Bush famously did, he carried a baseball bat out of the tunnel before the game, and then he delivered one heck of a swing on the field. We're 83 days out from seeing the Saints kick off their 2026 season. That Detroit Lions game is coming up fast! So, take a minute, appreciate a legendary play, and let's get ready for some more football action. The season is almost here, and you know we'll be watching every snap, every punt, every tackle. Get hyped!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.