Cincinnati Bengals Remember Bruce Gradkowski's Game-Winning Drive In '06

Despite making just 13 starts in his four-year career, Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski has had recent success against the Cincinnati Bengals.

As a rookie in 2006, Gradkowski led the Bucs on a game-winning drive as he threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Clayton with 34 seconds left in the 14-13 win over the Bengals.

At first, the play was ruled incomplete as Clayton appeared to fumble before crossing the goal line. However, the replay showed he had control of the ball while crossing the plane, sending the Bengals to their second loss of the season. 

The Bengals finished that year 8-8, and were one-game short of a possible wild-card berth. While it's difficult to apply the "what if" card in the NFL, the Bengals and their fans knew how different their season could have been had Gradkowski not led that game-winning drive.

Prior to the game, the Bengals were 3-1 and just one game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. While there were a few games over the eight losses that season the team could look back and say they should have won, no loss may have been more painful than the one against the Bucs.

At the time, Tampa Bay was winless with a 0-4 record. Gradkowski, a sixth-round pick from Toledo, was making his second career start in the NFL, replacing the injured Chris Simms at quarterback. Despite being heavy favorites, the 3-1 Bengals loss to the previously winless Bucs was heartbreaking. 

While the circumstances are different this time around, there are a few current members of the Bengals who were on the team in 2006 and still remember that game-winning drive by Gradkowski.

Gradkowski will be making his first start of the season against the Bengals after Raiders head coach Tom Cable decided to bench quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

At 7-2, the Bengals travel to Oakland as heavy favorites against the 2-7 Raiders. They are in control of their own destiny in the AFC North and look to continue their success on the road after winning their fifth straight game against the Steelers.

However, they know this time around to be extra cautious about Gradkowski at quarterback.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com