With 8,000 tickets remaining, Bengals working with the NFL for an extension

The Cincinnati Bengals have announced that they've got 8,000 ticket remaining (as of 3:30 p.m) for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. If the game doesn't sell out by 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon, the game will be blacked out in local markets. It also appears that the team is in contact with the NFL for an extension -- which could be pushed back as far as 4 p.m (ET) on Friday.

Jeff Berding: "The club and league are committed to making this game a sellout." #Bengals

— Kevin Goheen (@FSOhio_KGoheen) January 1, 2014

According to ESPN business reporter Darren Rovell, the Bengals sold 2,000 tickets on Tuesday.

The Bengals are one of three teams struggling to sell playoff tickets this weekend. At last report, the Indianapolis Colts have 5,500 remaining and the Green Bay Packers have 8,500 left. The Colts deadline is Thursday, having already received an extension. Like the Bengals, the Packers could receive one.

Cincinnati released a statement on Tuesday announcing that the number of tickets remaining had fallen below 10,000 but expressed pessimism that it would sell out before Thursday's deadline.

"NFL playoff games are rare and wonderful chances for communities to showcase their communities in front of a national TV audience of roughly 30 million viewers," said Jeff Berding, Bengals director of sales and public affairs. "The Club appreciates the support we are seeing and remains excited about next Sunday’s game. However, we need to be candid that -- unless the rate of daily sales increases -- we will not achieve a sellout, and the game will not be televised in Cincinnati, Dayton or Lexington, Ky., per NFL policy."