For the past 31 years, the Bengals have never hosted a game against the Browns in which that game didn't end up being a sellout. The Battle of Ohio was always an epic affair between two teams claiming the right for Ohio, a serious rivalry until both teams fell into an abyss of mediocrity, never being serious title contenders in the same season.

But even through the rough years before the Browns left Cleveland, or the years that followed on their return, when the Bengals hosted the Browns, the stadium was always filled.

Until this Sunday.

Thanks to many factors, most of it being that the Bengals and Browns have a combined 7-19 record with the Bengals owning a majority of those losses, the game will be officially blacked out locally on Sunday. That means if you're in Cincinnati, Dayton, Lexington or inside a 75-mile radius from Paul Brown Stadium, you won't have an excuse to avoiding clearing the snow in your driveway. This also means I'll be in contact with a certain reader outside the viewing area.

This will be the team's third straight black out dating back to the Buffalo Bills and it's likely the team won't sellout against the San Diego Chargers on December 26 in the team's home finale.