Lions blackout: Week 3 game vs. Redskins won't air in Detroit
Updated 9/24/2009 5:43 PM ET
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions failed to sell all their tickets for Sunday's game against the Redskins, meaning there will be a TV blackout in some local markets.
Team spokesman Bill Keenist said Thursday the game will be blacked out in the Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw-Flint and Toledo, Ohio, markets.
More than 10,000-plus tickets were available on Wednesday. Last week, the Lions were able to sell 1,700 tickets in the sprint before the deadline for the home game against Minnesota. No such luck this time.
The Lions have lost 19 games in a row, matching the second-longest skid in NFL history.
Coach Jim Schwartz says the team must take responsibility for the empty seats. "It is on us because it's our job to win," he said. "It's our job to get fans excited and to give them a reason to come to the game. And when we do that, we won't have to worry about blackouts or sellouts or anything else."
This will be the NFL's second blackout this season. The Jacksonville Jaguars had last week's game against the Arizona Cardinals blacked out.
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