By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SAN DIEGO - There were no guarantees offered this week. Chad Johnson instead allowed his actions to speak in a 34-27 win against the Chargers on Sunday.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

The third-year pro, who was featured on ESPN before the game, set career highs with three touchdowns and 10 receptions. His 107 receiving yards also was a team-high.

"This is what I'm capable of doing week after week," Johnson said. "But it's not just me. It's my coaches."

The bulk of his damage came before halftime, and primarily against young Chargers cornerbacks Sammy Davis and Quentin Jammer.

"I guarantee you in another year or two they will be the two top corners in the NFL, easy," Johnson said. "That only thing I can say is a game like today is not going to happen to them every week."

But it happened Sunday.

Johnson scored the Bengals' first two touchdowns of the game. His first was a 5-yard pass with 10:15 remaining in the first quarter that capped a nine- play, 70-yard game-opening drive.

On the Bengals' second drive, Johnson caught QB Jon Kitna's 4-yard pass in the end zone despite having Jammer on his back with 3:35 left in the first quarter.

With 1:25 remaining in the second quarter, Johnson caught a screen pass against single-coverage near the line of scrimmage. He faked out Davis and took off for the 12-yard TD to put the Bengals ahead 21-13. That third touchdown also tied a franchise record for most receiving TDs in a game. The last Bengal to do it was Carl Pickens in December 1996. With five games remaining, Johnson has 65 receptions for 988 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns.

"There's not anybody in the NFL that can cover me," Johnson said. "It's not because I'm good. I'm just well-coached."

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