By Madhuri Dey
Dec. 01, (THAINDIAN NEWS) On Monday, the Saints had to do without one of their high powered players, Reggie Bush, who was benched due to a knee injury. The player had been battling the knee injury for quite some time, a fact that had limited the time he could practice before the match. Bush had not taken part in the games last week either, and the hope that it would help him recuperate sooner were dashed as his health did not improve. He had not been included in the tentative roster, bit the New Orleans Saints were indeed hoping that they would be able to put the key running Back in the final one.

Bush’s absence in the team was expected to be felt deeply in the running games and in the special teams, considering that he is third on the team’s receptions and third in rushing yards. Thus, it indeed comes as a surprise that the Saints still won the game despite such a huge drawback in terms of players. The Patriots lost the game 17-31, a loss that severes the team’s hopes to win the AFC title, the final match of which will be held in Miami the next week.

Along with Bush, the other players that did not play in the match were Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. Greer was not able to play due to a groin injury and Porter was benched due to a knee injury. This is the third consecutive match that Greer had missed, and the second one for Porter. The other inactives in the Saints roster were wide reciever Lance Moore, fullback Kyle Eckel, linebacker Jonathan Cassillas, kicker Garrett Hartley and defensive tackle DeMario Pressley.