Cincinnati Bengals face blackout against Houston Texans

The Cincinnati Bengals, in first place in the AFC North and one of the NFL's biggest surprises with a 4-1 record, are facing a blackout for Sunday's home game against the Houston Texans.

AFC North blog

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According to the Bengals, they will need "a significant increase" in the pace of ticket sales this week to avoid being blacked out.

By league rule, if Sunday's 1 p.m. ET game is not sold out by Thursday afternoon, home television markets in the Cincinnati area will not be able to show the broadcast of the Bengals, who are on a four-game winning streak. The Texans are 2-3.

There is a chance the team could get a 24-hour extension to avoid the blackout.

The Bengals have sold out 46 straight home games in the regular season and playoffs, but Ohio has been one of the hardest-hit areas during the economic recession.

Coincidentally, the previous Bengals home game that did not sell out also was against Houston, on Nov. 9, 2003, when both teams were 3-5.

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