NFL extension helps Lions avoid blackout

9/19/2009

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions have dodged the bullet, using an extension from the NFL to sell out their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings and avoid a TV blackout.

The Lions on Thursday still had 1,700 tickets to sell by 1 p.m. yesterday for the game to be televised in the Detroit, Lansing, Saginaw-Flint, and Toledo markets.

Detroit had 50 straight sellouts at Ford Field until Oct. 26, 2008, when it played Washington. The Lions failed to sell out other games later in the season en route to setting an NFL mark with the first 0-16 season.

The Lions lost this season's opener at New Orleans, extending their losing streak to 18 games.