Bengals.com reports that the ticket office had "strong sales Wednesday evening and Thursday morning" allowing for hope that the Bengals could apply for an extension with the league office. Typically extensions are applied and granted only if there's a chance that a sellout happens. Bengals.com write:
Indications are there has been enough of a surge that the club could apply for an extension and move the deadline from 1 p.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Friday.
UPDATE: Bengals.com updates that the league has granted the Bengals an extension.
Games normally must be sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff for lifting of the local TV blackout, but the deadline for this week has been shortened to 48 hours, giving the club until 1 p.m. tomorrow (Friday).
“We thank our fans for stepping up with a good run of support the last few days, bringing us close enough to get this extension,” said Katie Blackburn, Bengals executive vice-president. “We are continuing to work to lift the blackout. It’s unclear if we will make it -- we have more than 3000 tickets to go -- but we have great fans and hope we can reach the level that allows our sellout streak to continue.”