Local TV ratings are "up -- as is conversation about the Bengals -- but the team’s surprising push toward a possible playoff spot has not translated to increased ticket sales," according to Joe Reedy of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Sunday’s game against the Texans is one of the "top games on the NFL’s Week 14 schedule, but the Bengals announced Tuesday that the game will not be a sellout and will not air locally." It will be the Bengals' "fifth blackout in six home games this season." Through five home games, the Bengals are "averaging a league-low 49,619 fans, which is 75.7 percent of capacity at Paul Brown Stadium." Only two games have "drawn more than 50,000." Bengals Owner Mike Brown has "said over the past year that he knew there were going to be attendance problems this season and that he hoped winning would draw them back." Brown in October said, "We have to earn back our people, they lost belief in what we were doing. I think we’re starting to do that." Last season, the Bengals were "10th in the league in attendance, drawing an average of 60,364." The only other team in the NFL "below 80 percent capacity this season is Miami, which is at 78.3 percent" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/7).
