Botched trick play hurts Saints

NEW ORLEANS -- Sean Payton waited a long time to bring back the trick play he dubbed "the Superdome Special."

He picked the wrong time.

Devery Henderson fumbled a late, awkward toss from Reggie Bush, allowing backup quarterback Luke McCown to drive Tampa Bay for a touchdown with 17 seconds left that lifted the Buccaneers to a 27-23 triumph over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The victory gave Tampa Bay (8-4) a comfortable 3-game lead in the NFC South with only four games left.

"That's a disappointing loss and probably the worst job I've done as head coach since we've been here," said Payton, now in his second season as a head coach. "Obviously, I regret the play call. It cost us the game."

A strikingly similar play debuted during the Saints' dramatic victory over Atlanta in their first game back in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It was a reverse on which Bush lined up as a slot receiver, took a handoff on what looked like an end-around, then tossed the ball to Henderson on a reverse. Back then, it went for an 11-yard TD and sent the Superdome crowd into an ecstatic frenzy.

This time, it yielded gasps, followed by a few boos and even some critical shouts regarding Payton's competence.

Call it a microcosm of a frustrating season for New Orleans (5-7), now on the brink of missing the playoffs after going to the NFC championship game a season ago.

McCown started for Jeff Garcia and completed 29 of 37 passes for 313 yards and 2 TDs. Joey Galloway finished with 7 catches for 159 yards, including a 60-yard bomb where he was pulled down at the 1-yard line.