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Raiders rally to stun Bengals 20-17

November 23, 2009

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Bruce Gradkowski(notes) provided more than a spark for thestruggling Oakland Raiders. He delivered a much-needed comeback victory that theCincinnati Bengals handed over to Oakland.

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

The Bengals (7-3) have lost all 10 games in Oakland, including one playoffgame. But this had to be one of the most painful. Cincinnati maintained itsone-game lead over Pittsburgh in the AFC North after the Steelers lost inovertime at Kansas City, yet this loss could prove critical to seedings or evena playoff berth down the stretch.

Cincinnati Cincinnati Bengals cornerback … AP – Nov 22, 7:14 pm EST Oakland Raiders quarterback Br… AP – Nov 22, 6:23 pm EST Oakland Raiders fan Shea Ohlot… AP – Nov 22, 6:22 pm EST Cincinnati Bengals quarterback… AP – Nov 22, 6:22 pm EST Oakland Raiders wide receiver … AP – Nov 22, 6:21 pm EST Cincinnati Bengals halfback La… AP – Nov 22, 5:43 pm EST Cincinnati Bengals cornerback … AP – Nov 22, 5:36 pm EST Cincinnati Bengals quarterback… AP – Nov 22, 5:18 pm EST Cincinnati Bengals quarterback… AP – Nov 22, 5:15 pm EST Cincinnati Bengals quarterback… AP – Nov 22, 4:58 pm EST Oakland Raiders defensive end … AP – Nov 22, 4:58 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 10; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.91c6dd9d5a9b4092b3f64b6d2261bb1e.bengals_raiders_football_caps107.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=318&hc=353&q=70&sig=ppSqFv.CG98HNFUihuK2JQ--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.e48119681f124c2181ca36118cacab0d.bengals_raiders_football_caps105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=83&yc=1&wc=246&hc=273&q=70&sig=6Q3J2ot9bKkm6GKquXD5Qg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.f6c009ba7d45477185f8277429c74b65.bengals_raiders_football_caps108.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=341&hc=379&q=70&sig=y4oSThy_4E8BGeR15wskKg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.9b0e162560494f1f99ac186fd7ad2aaa.bengals_raiders_football_caps109.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=56&yc=1&wc=300&hc=333&q=70&sig=2cQcG1uNbzi_ybusOwlsRw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.e545307ecf5c4826bd9d126f5226cd7d.correction_bengals_raiders_football_caps106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=277&hc=308&q=70&sig=m3ye3XH.d9RiT7YnsooAUA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.3aebb5ec3ed440488790215ec67af050.bengals_raiders_football_caps106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=277&hc=308&q=70&sig=q_vxEPTEISPG0QVbVY1Dbg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.e2f2942233954a25ad778bb32a365846.bengals_raiders_football_caps104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=92&yc=1&wc=228&hc=253&q=70&sig=EZs02ozewjwvnNnwICFEFA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.931ab7056b574ec58d6cbccbb878aba4.bengals_raiders_football_caps103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=345&hc=383&q=70&sig=ozf_ighwkxBHnP9.JnZ2gw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.efbd00e822ff4b04a730ccc96a7d76a1.bengals_raiders_football_caps102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=75&yc=1&wc=260&hc=289&q=70&sig=5Ceq35x3hdRr778nsCAZMg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.d3a84b462bab49b0a5c5158ddd060418.bengals_raiders_football_caps101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=76&yc=1&wc=259&hc=288&q=70&sig=2oV1V7Oj.gaOlbn_2yXUKA--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 11 Cin-Oak Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();

Oakland (3-7) rallied from an early 14-point deficit and trailed 17-10 with2:06 left when Gradkowski took over at the 20-yard line. Gradkowski, who tookthe starting job from JaMarcus Russell(notes) this week, threw a 19-yard pass to ZachMiller, then a 16-yarder to Chaz Schilens(notes) on fourth-and-10.

After a spike, Gradkowski found Murphy near the goal line. Murphy got loosefrom Morgan Trent(notes) and dived across the goal line for the tying score.

Just when it seemed the game was headed to overtime, Caldwell was strippedby Brandon Myers(notes) on the kickoff, giving the Raiders the ball at the 17. Afterthree kneel-downs, Janikowski delivered the winning kick, setting off acelebration among the few fans who showed up. Nnamdi Asomugha(notes) intercepted alast-ditch pass from Carson Palmer(notes) to seal the victory.

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

The biggest fumbles were by fullback Jeremi Johnson(notes) at the Oakland 15 andpoised to add on to a 17-10 lead and the one by Caldwell. Shayne Graham(notes) alsomissed a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Palmer completed 14 of 22 passes for 207 yards and became the first Bengalsquarterback to run for two touchdowns in a game since Jack Thompson in 1979.Rookie Bernard Scott(notes) ran for a season-high 119 yards in place of the injuredCedric Benson(notes), and newcomer Larry Johnson(notes) had two carries for 5 yards.

Gradkowski replaced Russell in two of the past three games, but was unableto lead a single scoring drive. He did plenty with an entire week to prepare,giving the Raiders their first two-touchdown game since the opener.

He connected on a 10-yarder to Miller in the second quarter and then thetying TD to Murphy. He finished 17 for 34 for 183 yards, with one interceptionand a lost fumble, and won for the first time since his rookie year in 2006 withTampa Bay.

Raiders defensive lineman Richard Seymour(notes) left the game in the first quarterwith a lower back injury.

Written by chris · Filed Under Football 

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