Chargers vs. Buccaneers blacked out

Sunday's game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers at Raymond James Stadium will be blacked out on local television, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning three of their last four games and in the middle of a playoff race, some thought that the game could be aired locally, but a ticket report earlier in the week put a damper on those ideas.

The Buccaneers' front office told reporters that 9,000 tickets needed to be sold in order to lift the blackout, but the team was unable to sell them before the Thursday 1 p.m. ET deadline. In order for the game to be televised on local television, the team needs to sell 85 percent of the non-premium tickets available at the stadium.

The Buccaneers have been blacked out at every home game this season except for their Oct 21. contest against the New Orleans Saints.