Chad Johnson wants to know how far he has come as a receiver. And he considers Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister the closest thing to Deion Sanders he'll ever face.

"He'll bring out the best in me. That's why I want him to play," Johnson said.

McAlister has missed three games with an ankle injury. He didn't play against the Bengals onNov.10, when Johnson started his streak of three consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards.

Ravens coach Brian Billick said he expects McAlister to play.

McAlister has one interception and 46 tackles this season and usually draws the opposing team's best wide receiver.

That's Johnson. In a position to become the first Bengals receiver since Carl Pickens in 1994 to have 100 receiving yards in four consecutive games, Johnson leads the Bengals with 45 receptions, 713 yards and four touchdowns.

Johnson has been especially productive in quarterback Jon Kitna's seven starts. In those games, Johnson has 40 receptions for 635 yards and three touchdowns.

Johnson's emergence has taken pressure off Peter Warrick. Warrick is facing lighter defensive traffic in the middle of the field as the slot receiver.

"I'm happy for Chad," Warrick said. "People look at me and say, 'He's got to do this and he's got to do that.' Chad, they look at him and say, 'They hope he does this, hope he does that.'

"But the way things are going, he's doing the things they expect me to do. And I'm not doing it. I just wish him the best of luck."

--Mark Curnutte

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