Gradkowski threw a 29-yard, game-tying touchdown pass to Louis Murphy with 33 seconds left and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 33-yard field goal after Andre Caldwell fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Raiders a 20-17 victory yesterday.

The Bengals (7-3) have lost all 10 games in Oakland, including one playoff game. Cincinnati maintained its one-game lead over Pittsburgh in the AFC North after the Steelers lost in overtime at Kansas City, yet this loss could prove critical to seedings or even a playoff berth down the stretch.

Oakland (3-7) rallied from an early, 14-point deficit and trailed 17-10 with 2:06 left when Gradkowski took over at the 20-yard line. Gradkowski, who took the starting job from JaMarcus Russell this week, threw a 19-yard pass to Zach Miller, then a 16-yarder to Chaz Schilens on fourth-and-10.

After a spike, Gradkowski (17-for-34, 183 yards) found Murphy near the goal line. Murphy got loose from Morgan Trent and dove across the goal line for the tying score.

Just when it seemed the game was headed to overtime, Caldwell was stripped by Brandon Myers on the kickoff, giving the Raiders the ball at the 17. After three kneel-downs, Janikowski delivered the winning kick, setting off a celebration among the few fans who showed up. Nnamdi Asomugha intercepted a last-ditch pass from Carson Palmer to seal the victory.

The Bengals scored touchdowns on two of their first three drives, but managed only three more points the rest of the way. They were done in by three lost fumbles, eight penalties and a missed field goal.

Palmer (14-for-22, 207 yards) became the first Bengals quarterback to run for two touchdowns in a game since Jack Thompson in 1979.