updated 7:42 p.m. ET Dec. 2, 2007

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 three-game lead in the NFC South Division 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 touchdown 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.

Even Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden’s decision to start third-string quarterback McCown instead of Jeff Garcia, who was hobbled by a bruised lower back, worked against New Orleans.

Making his first start for Tampa Bay and fifth of his career, McCown completed his first 15 passes and wound up 29-of-37 for 313 yards and two touchdowns.

The winning score was a quick 4-yard pass to Jerramy Stevens, who had to outleap Jason Craft to make the catch.

“We tried to not play defensive with a young quarterback playing in his first game in a long time. Luke McCown responded,” Gruden said. “For us to win this game, we knew we would have to score some points. The only way we were going to do it was by throwing it.”

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The Saints appeared to seize control of the game when defensive end Will Smith sacked McCown for a safety that gave New Orleans a 23-20 lead with 3:44 to go. Tampa Bay was already down to one time out, so a couple of first downs might have put it away.

But on second down at midfield, Payton called for the ill-fated reverse. Bush had trouble with the handoff, then his pitch was a little late and off target. Henderson reached for it but couldn’t bring it in, and the ball squirted away from him when he tried to dive on it.

Jovan Haye recovered for Tampa Bay at the Saints 37.

Tampa Bay was quickly faced with a fourth-and-1 at the Saints’ 28. Gruden first sent out his field goal team to go for the tie, then called them back and sent the offense out again. Earnest Graham gained a couple yards to extend the drive.

“I feel good about our fourth-down play selection and I just changed my mind. I had confidence in running the power off our right side,” Gruden said. “You’ve got a chance to push it into overtime or you’ve got a chance to take advantage of the opportunity while you are there and that’s what we did.”

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