The Packers, Bengals and Colts all face possible TV blackouts as they try to sell out their home playoff games. The Packers as of late yesterday afternoon had less than 7,500 tickets left to sell for Sunday's 49ers game. It is "believed the NFL would grant the Packers an extension" past today's 3:40pm CT deadline, if needed. The team has sent e-mails to "season ticket holders, shareholders and people on the season-ticket waiting list" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/2).
The Bengals as of yesterday afternoon had 8,000 tickets to sell. Bengals PR Dir Jack Brennan said that the "team is confident they can get an extension from Thursday to Friday" (ESPN.com, 1/1). But Bengals execs on Tuesday "made it clear" that they "don't expect Sunday's game against San Diego to sell out unless there's a last-minute surge from the general public or concentrated effort by the business community" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/1).
The Colts have 5,500 tickets remaining for Saturday's game against the Chiefs. They "have sold out 137 of their last 138 games" (ESPN.com, 1/1). The NFL "has extended the blackout deadline" for the Colts until 4:30pm ET today (TWITTER.com, 12/31).
Meanwhile, tickets for the Panthers' Jan. 12 Divisional Playoff game "sold out in three minutes" yesterday morning. This will be the team's first playoff game in five years (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/2).
