CINCINNATI (AP) - The defensive substitutes were slow getting onto the field. The coverage changed at the line. Confusion mounted. Somehow, the Vikings had just one guy trying to cover Chad Johnson.

Only the second play of the game, and Minnesota's defense was in trouble already.

Johnson ran past cornerback Antoine Winfield for an easy 70-yard touchdown catch, getting the Cincinnati Bengals rolling toward a 37-8 victory Sunday that amounted to their best showing in coach Marvin Lewis' three seasons.

''You couldn't have asked for more than Chad down the middle like that,'' tight end Matt Schobel said.

The Bengals (2-0) got everything they asked for and a whole lot more in their home opener. They dominated so thoroughly that the Vikings (0-2) were talking afterward about the need to stick together - never a good sign so early in the season.

''This looks like it will be another wonderful challenge of fix one thing, and another thing breaks,'' coach Mike Tice said. ''That is where the job turns into a lot of fun. You have to have a reason to come to work every day. If you didn't have to work on anything new every day, your job would be boring.''

Nothing is boring when Johnson is around. The chatty receiver likes to have fun and raise the ante before games, then deliver as promised. He did it again Sunday.

Johnson challenged cornerback Fred Smoot during the week, and went over to the Vikings' sideline for a few more words before the coin toss. Smoot yelled back and made a ''bring-it-on'' wave with his arm.