Leeds: (10) 18
Tries: Lauitiiti, Kirke, Gibson (2)
Goals: Sinfield
Wigan: (6) 20
Tries: Vaealiki, Ashton, Calderwood
Goals: Dobson (4)
Former Leeds player Mark Calderwood scored Wigan's winning try as their sixth wins in seven games kept up their struggle to escape the relegation zone.
David Vaealiki opened the scoring for Wigan but tries by replacements Ali Lauitiiti and Ian Kirke put Leeds 10-6 up at the interval.
Ashley Gibson extended the Rhinos' lead before Chris Ashton and Calderwood put the visitors in control.
Gibson's second try was not enough to prevent a fifth straight Leeds loss.
The win eased Wigan's relegation fears and eased the pain of being fined two points earlier in the week for breaking the Super League salary cap.
Leeds coach Tony Smith:
"Sometimes, players are trying to make that one big play instead of building games. "We need to get back to building games and building up pressure and putting the pressure on the opposition rather than on ourselves.
"That's what we are going through at the moment. Some passes aren't sticking and some balls aren't bouncing the way you would like them to but that's what happens when you go through these patches."
Wigan coach Brian Noble:
"I've been telling the players we can knock the top teams over the way we've been playing. "The focus all week has been our performance - we can't be distracted by what has happened (the points deduction).
"We'll need more points before the end of the season but we've shown we're a good side at the moment. It's probably the best we've played since I've been here.
"We found a reason to win this week whereas before, we had found a reason to lose."
Leeds: Tansey, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Gibson, Sinfield, Burrow, Bailey, Millard, Jones-Buchanan, Walker, Peacock, Ellis.
Replacements: Diskin, Lauitiiti, Kirke, Thackray.
Wigan: Ashton, Calderwood, Vaealiki, McAvoy, Richards, Orr, Dobson, Fielden, Higham, Paleaaesina, Hock, Fletcher, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Radlinski, Logan, Godwin, Hansen.
Referee: Ashley Kline (London)