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Chargers at Bengals: Prediction and preview

By Matt Verderame

Sep 13, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) reacts after a catch during the first quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) reacts after a catch during the first quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cincinnati Bengals are set to open their home slate in the 2015 NFL regular season against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium. Both teams looked very good in their openers, with the Bengals slapping around the Oakland Raiders, 33-13, while the Chargers took care of business at home and beat the Detroit Lions, 33-28.

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Coming into this game, the plan is pretty obvious for Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis. Lewis has a terrific duo of running backs in Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, who give the Bengals a thunder and lightning combination. Against the Raiders, Hill and Bernard both rushed for 63 yards, with Hill getting 19 carries and Bernard only eight. Hill scored twice, while Bernard also added six receptions.

Meanwhile, the Chargers struggle to stop the run. San Diego has one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the game with Corey Liuget, but the remainder of the line is weak. Behind the line is a pair of middling inside linebackers in Manti Te’o and Donald Butler. Denzel Perryman also figures to get some work, drafting the second round by general manager Tom Telesco for his ability to stuff the run.

The Chargers will likely take the opposite approach, making the sky dark with footballs. Quarterback Philip Rivers threw for more than 400 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1, and expect more of the same against a Bengals defense that can’t get much pressure. Cincinnati finished dead last in sacks in 2014, and did little to address the issue. In Week 1 against Oakland, Cincinnati was able to bring down reserve signal-caller Matt McGloin twice.

The Bengals did catch a break with Adam Jones only being fined after slamming Amari Cooper’s head into his dislodged helmet on Sunday. Jones will be playing against San Diego, matched up against Keenan Allen or Steve Johnson.

Pick: Cincinnati 27, San Diego 24

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