The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense is nearly identical in scheme to the Detroit Lions’ unit the Chargers ripped for 483 yards and 33 points last Sunday.

It’s another 4-3 defense that also offers Cover 3 looks with some Cover 2. Also similar is the Cover 99 design with an extra defensive back.

The Bengals are slightly more athletic at cornerback than Detroit, but expect Chargers receivers Keenan Allen, Stevie Johnson and Malcom Floyd to get open against the likes of quick and scrappy but limited Pacman Jones, 31; rangy but raw Dre Kirkpatrick; and Leon Hall, 30, a sound veteran and Vista High alum who has lost a step.

The Bengals boast rare continuity on defense. They know their system. Their free safety, Reggie Nelson, is a playmaker who keeps his teammates on point.


Where the Bengals pose the biggest challenge is up front.

Geno Atkins, an elite interior rusher, will go against right guard Chris Hairston, the replacement to D.J. Fluker. Expect the Chargers to send several double teams at Atkins, but blockers will also have to deal with rangy ends Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson.

The Chargers have ways to wear out a pass rush.

Philip Rivers is one of the NFL’s best at varying cadence and counts. He got a Lions defender to jump offside and create a first down on third-and-4.


The Chargers have three capable running backs, and their quick-pass game skewered the Lions, with Rivers throwing, on average, just 1.97 seconds after the snap.

It was the NFL’s fastest release average for Week 1.

Rivers, who will be making his 146th straight start, is in his third year in Mike McCoy’s offense and McCoy, more so than Norv Turner did, allows Rivers leeway to change tempo and adjust calls depending on what he sees from the defense.

Though Rivers threw two interceptions last week, he burned the Lions several times by reading their defense and tailoring the play call.


“Philip made a ton of great checks,” said playcaller Frank Reich, who also commended the line. “Got us into the right play at several key moments, just as a result of his preparation, and then not only seeing it but executing on it. And then the receivers (were) doing a good job with it as well.”