The NFL has granted the Cincinnati Bengals an extension to sell their unsold tickets for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. The team isn't saying how many tickets are available, but will now have until Friday at 4 p.m. to sell the rest.

NOTE: The team's twitter account cited 3,500 tickets remaining, but has since deleted that tweet with a follow-up message that that number isn't valid.

Based on sales and help from local companies, the NFL felt Cincinnati close enough that an extension would eventually lead to a declared sell out on Friday. Local companies that helped includes Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati Insurance Company, Cintas, United Dairy Farmers, Liberty Mutual/Safeco, WCPO/Scripps and Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, who have helped provide tickets to military families through the Armed Forces Ticket Association (AFTA).

When the game is sold out, the black out will be lifted and air live on Channel 12 in Cincinnati, Channel 7 in Dayton and Channel 27 in Lexington.

Tickets for Sunday’s game may be purchased on-line through Ticketmaster, and fans can quickly reach the correct Ticketmaster web page through a prominent link on the home page of Bengals.com. Fans also may contact Ticketmaster by phone at 800-745-3000.

Tickets also may be purchased through the Bengals Ticket Hotline at 513-621-8383, or toll-free at 866-621-8383 (TDTD), or in person at the Paul Brown Stadium ticket office. The Hotline and the ticket office will be open until 7 o’clock tonight and will re-open at 9 a.m. tomorrow.