Bengals-Chargers to be 1st NFL blackout of year

SAN DIEGO (AP) The first NFL game to be blacked out locally this season will be Sunday's matchup between the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals and the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers say more than 5,300 tickets were still unsold at Thursday's deadline, meaning the game won't be televised in Southern California.

The Chargers had four blackouts last season, including a loss to the Bengals.

The Chargers were spared the embarrassment of a local TV blackout of a Monday night game against the Indianapolis Colts earlier this season after ESPN and some local sponsors guaranteed the purchase of approximately 8,500 tickets.

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