Cincinnati Bengals
Notes: 3,000 tickets left
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted December 21, 2009 5:09 PM ET
There are still more than 3,000 tickets available for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Bengals ticket manager Andrew Brown said on Monday.
So far this season, the team has had to ask for extensions four times to avoid a blackout, but each time a combination of the team, the TV station airing the game and a corporate sponsor has come in to save the day.
If the game doesn't sell out, it would be blacked out locally. The team hasn't had a blackout since 2003.
"We would like to have it sold out here, we have a little over 3,000 right now, we're doing everything we can to move those last 3,000," Brown said. "We're re-introducing the Kansas City and playoff guarantee package. We'll extend that offer until 5 p.m. (Tuesday) in hopes of moving those."
If the Bengals win the game, it won't be the final home game of the season. It would give the Bengals the AFC North title (as would a Baltimore Ravens loss) and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
While the overall remaining ticket number is lower than it has been in previous weeks in which there has been a question about a blackout, this week is shorter because of the holidays.
INJURY UPDATES: Defensive tackle Domata Peko said he hopes to practice on Wednesday. Peko hasn't played since the Nov. 29 game against Cleveland due to a knee injury.
"Yeah, I'm getting a lot better. I hit the treadmill up this weekend and felt really good. It's getting stronger," Peko said on Monday. "They say I'm ahead of schedule, that's good. I can't wait to get back out there. ... Wednesday I'll be running around for the first time on the field with cleats on everything. I can't wait to get out there, we're making positive steps forward. I can't wait to get out there and play for my guy, Chris (Henry)."
Safety Chris Crocker said he's unsure about his status for the game against the Chiefs. He didn't play against the Chargers with an ankle injury.
"So I think as we go forward this week, we're about as healthy as we can be, and I think that's a positive," Marvin Lewis said. "I think we're going to come home to our home fans. It's a good week for us."
FOSCHI SHINES: Tight end J.P. Foschi had a career high in both catches and yards on Sunday, catching seven passes for 82 yards.
"We were throwing more, got the right coverages we were looking for in certain situations and I got open," Foschi said. "Obviously we practice all these things all week, running routes, I keep it in my head that I don't always get the ball and I don't expect to, but I run every route like I'm going to, regardless."
Foschi's biggest catch may have been a 21-yarder in the fourth quarter on the game-tying drive. It came after one of his biggest mistakes, a holding penalty on the first play of the drive, backing the Bengals up to their own 3.
On the next play, he caught a pass from Carson Palmer for 21 yards to start the drive off.
"At the time, I thought the penalty, I was upset about it and I did get to see the film of that play and it was holding, but during the game I didn't realize that and I was glad they called that play because I was saying to myself I'm going to make a play and get it back," Foschi said. "I was ticked off, it's the last couple minutes of the game and we're tyring to get a drive off and the first thing I do is get a penalty, that's not a really good start, especially backed up like that."
Foschi made a good catch on a high pass from Palmer, that surprised even himself.
"I got up from that one I didn't know how I came down with that one. He threw it hard enough that it just stuck," Foschi said. "I didn't realize I could get that high off the ground, I don't think most my teammates did, either."
However, that drive wasn't all positive for Foschi, as he had a flase start once the Bengals got inside the red zone, backing them up and hurting the team's chances for a go-ahead touchdown. Andre Caldwell fumbled on the next play, setting up a second-and-36 from the San Diego 45.
HALL'S TOUGH DAY: Lewis said Leon Hall was wrongful accused of being the goat of Sunday's loss to the Chargers.
"Leon gave up one play. So, careful what you write, please? All right?" Lewis said.
However, when asked which play and for further clarification, Lewis refused.
"I'm not going ... you know better than that," Lewis said. "I thought Leon played, other than one play, pretty well. Sometimes things happen and you're the one that's supposedly the goat and he's not necessarily the goat. Leon is a good football player and he gave up a play yesterday that he wished he had back. We have to do a better job. We have to win the football game. That's the most important thing."
Hall had coverage on Vincent Jackson for both of his touchdown catches, however rookie Tom Nelson said he made the mistake that allowed Jackson's 34-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, News
Tags: Andrew Brown, blackout, Chris Crocker, Domata Peko, J.P. Foschi, Marvin Lewis, Tom Nelson
Comments (0)