We realize that, in the past, plenty of NFL teams have taken orders on playoff tickets before actually clinching a playoff berth.
But that doesn’t mean that we’re comfortable with the practice.
Superstition is a big part of my Eye-talian heritage. And even though I’m not a big believer in the whole salt-in-the-shirt-pocket thing, I fear the concept of the jinx.
The Bengals apparently don’t.
In an effort to sell tickets for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, the Bengals have reiterated on Monday an offer to “lock in tickets” for the two playoff games that the Bengals could host. Of course, to “lock in tickets” for the two playoff games, tickets for all three games must be bought now. While refunds will be available, the Bengals presumably will be keeping the interest they earn on the money.
The reality, however, is that the Bengals currently aren’t guaranteed to play a single playoff game, and it strikes us as odd that they’d renew this push after losing two straight games.
Sure, they only need to beat the Chiefs to nail down their first AFC North title since 2005. But one thing we know about this sport is that anything can happen, including the Bengals losing this Sunday and losing next Sunday and not making it to the postseason at all.
But, hey, at least they’ll earn some interest on other people’s money.
Yea if they dont make it Ill jump off the Roebling bridge.
Way to kick us while were down. Many teams in our position do this. I guess you prefer to wait until the week of the playoffs to start trying to move tix…
Leave it to a Steelers fan to post this crap. Jealousy is a terrible thing.
These Dummies are Lucky the Steelers are having an offseason!! This is what happens when a team has a winning season every 5-10 years!! They get cocky!
GO STEEEEEELERS!!!
Could be great bullet board material for the locker room……….if it was anybody but the Chiefs.
Another part of your eye-tallian heritage must be saying stoopid things: every team sends out its playoff tickets to season ticket holders right around now.
@mike
The Steelers most likely aren’t having an OFFSEASON.
They had a great performance against the Chargers in their house despite just losing a teammate and despite having their best defensive lineman (peko) and safety (crocker) out with injuries. They will be fine.
The Patriots send us out playoff invoices in mid November every year for possible games and have to be paid by mid December. Even last yr when we had to win the last game and hope the Jets beat Miami in NJ only to have Farve cave to the pressure.
i thought all division leaders did this in mid december………
Maybe they should make a Super Bowl rap video like the Steelers did before Super Bowl 30.
Is this like having to buy the Soccer and Hunting Channels when all you want is ESPN?
PatsFan54, the difference with the Pats is that the invoice is for Season Ticket holders, to reserve the tickets ahead of time (and if you don’t, the tickets are up for sale for non-season ticket holders if and when they make the playoffs and said tickets go on sale). The reason this is important to note is because the money used to reserve your playoff tickets goes towards the following years season tickets in the event they don’t make the playoffs or don’t host 2 home playoff games, etc.
Florio’s talking about how the Bungels are trying to sell tickets to the last game of the season, and are promoting them by bundling them with possible playoff tickets should they make it the post-season and host a game or two… instead of having to fight with everyone else if/when said tickets go on sale to the public.
The NFL actually requires teams that most likely are playoff bound to get this done prior to the end of December.
I paid my playoff invoice for the Eagles, though if things go south they wouldn’t host a game.
Chiefs are the worst team in the NFL.
They’ll get in. Should have already locked down a spot, but they haven’t. C’mon Pitt, Beat Baltimore this coming week, then lose your last game, so you don’t get in either. Help your Cincy fans out. (Just in case Bengals don’t win against Chiefs or Jets.)
mike says:
December 21, 2009 5:01 PM
These Dummies are Lucky the Steelers are having an offseason!! This is what happens when a team has a winning season every 5-10 years!! They get cocky!
Your team was lucky this week. They are a lucky bad football team period.
Who’s really cocky? You’re the one calling other fans dummies.
GO SQUEEEEEELERS!!!
OR they might be selling playoff tickets. It’s a toss up.
Brown beyond suck, ravens are not near the level of last season, and the steelers are so bad this year that its not even funny.
Don’t all teams do this? Do you expect teams to clinch Week 17 then turn around and arrange to get 60 or 70 thousand people their tickets in a week’s time? Another Moss not talking to the media article would be better than this.
My Cowboys playoff tickets were due on December 12th. You had to pay for two games. Granted, if they dont host a game the balance will be credited to next years season tickets but, personally I think it sucks having to pay for em up front, in advance when it isnt even determined whether or not we’ll make the playoffs, let alone… host a game.
Many Pro sports franchises do this though. I had NBA season tickets for a few years. Same same, you had to pay for playoffs before the season ended, AND you had to pay as if your team was going to go to the finals with homefield advantage….
Good for the Bengal I would like to see Chad and Carson get a ring
As for anyone knocking the Steelers that is just crazy Ben has two rings in 4 years
No one can knock that unless you are a complete idiot
Now for the important stat 2 for Ben 1 for Eli Zero for little Phil brook
Eye-talian huh? Your family must be from Eye-taly.
The best thing that could happen to the Bengals is that they would host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. This would guarantee a sell out! Being that the 50% of the tickets that the Bengals can’t sell they can easily sell to the Black-N-Gold faithful in no time. How embarrassing for the Brown family to have a playoff game blacked out!
Why don’t you have a positive article about the Bengals, like Chris Henry being an organ donor and helping others in need after he passed away? But that wouldn’t fit your constant Bengals bashing, would it now?
To urbusted:
How were the Steelers lucky on Sunday? Why weren’t the Packers lucky on Sunday? I don’t get it.
If the Steelers are a “lucky” team, they how in the blue hell could they be 7-7 with 5 losses by a mere 3 points? And, they might have played bad a lot this year (making no excuses for key injuries), but they are not a “bad” team, if you have a clue about football. They have a QB that might throw for 4,000 yards, a 1,000 yard rusher, and 2 1,000 yard receivers. Their defense and special teams have played poorly enough often enough in key situations, and they had some red zone scoring problems. But in no way are they a “lucky bad team”. You really made yourself look dumb by saying that.
IMHO, if anybody is lucky, it is the rest of the teams especially in the AFC that are lucky; lucky that the Steelers shot themselves in the foot all year long, by losing to so many teams that were clearly less talented. They have beaten the Vikes, Pack, Chargers and Denver–all likely playoff teams, and began by beating the Titans who are now 7-7.
Like I have been saying, IF the Steelers can sneak into the playoffs, the other playoffs teams better look out. Nobody wants to see the Steelers get in the playoffs.
IF they don’t get into the playoffs, it is more their own fault than the other teams’ doing, and I assure you that life will indeed go on.
GO STEELERS!
But that doesn’t mean that we’re comfortable with the practice.
And…so what?
The Pats do that every year (including last year) and you dont get a refund, they apply it to next years STH bill. They also always force you to buy 2 games.
Holeinone09 says:
December 21, 2009 6:17 PM
To urbusted:
How were the Steelers lucky on Sunday? Why weren’t the Packers lucky on Sunday? I don’t get it.
I’m not shocked, many of you Steeler fans don’t get it. At the risk of you calling me a dumb person or something, I’ll say it this way. The Steelers are not a top tier team anymore. Without getting into all of it, how can you think you are a top team with a special teams squad like the Steelers’? They flat out suck. I thought they were the luckiest team in the league last year. This year I just think it’s going to run out , that’s all. You see it different? I’ll respect your right to do so.
Considering that Cinci fans are saying things like “(Just in case Bengals don’t win against Chiefs or Jets.)” , i would probably just as soon hang on to my cash. The fact that thats even a possibility says alot about whats gonna happen against playoff teams even if they do get in.
I know about the policy. I have been a season ticket holder since 1993 when Parcells came to town. And I don’t mind paying in advance becuase I know that it will apply to my next yrs season ticket invoice if the 2 games are not played. I as just making a statement. At least our team is in the hunt for a playoff birth every year. The luck may run out soon like Dallas and San Fran did for a while and even Denver. I have faith in Belichick and team that they will always put a great product on the field.
Chuck Norris never tempted fate. He gave fate an unexpected round-house kick and knocked it into unconsciousness.
What kind of team sweeps their division and still hasn’t locked up the division? Bungles.
You really need to let up on the Bengals, Florio. Chris Henry’s funeral is tomorrow. Have some respect.
Directly from the Bengals official website:
“The National Football League has directed the Bengals and other teams to invoice for possible home playoff games.”
http://www.bengals.com/tickets/playoff-tickets.html
So actually Florio, the Bengals are doing what other potentially playoff-eligible teams are doing – planning for a potential playoff home game per instructions from the league. And I also want to point out this language regarding playoff ticket orders has been on the Bengals website (along with probably 8+ other teams) for about a month now. AND this has been done for years. Way to be in front on this.
Your blatant homer-ism would be understandable if this were a small-time blog, but PFT.com is an NBC outfit…start posting more professionally and telling us something we don’t know, ahead of ESPN etc – which is the only reason anyone comes here.
What is the Bengal’s front office thinking?
Everyone here in Cincinnati knows Bengal fans don’t buy tickets. They wait for Kroger and the local TV station to buy up all of the unwanted tickets and hand them out for free.
Isn’t that what all first place teams do?
Not sure why this is news. All teams do this and the nes that have PSL’s do it even earlier because the fans are required to buy them. I hate the Bengals, but not sure what you would expect them to do. They are pretty much a lock and the potential playoff game is less than three weeks away. Its a non issue.