By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens is not a sellout and will not be shown on live television in the Cincinnati market.

The game will be the Bengals' 22nd in taxpayer-funded Paul Brown Stadium. Just eight have sold out.

Three of the sellouts are against regional rivals Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and the Bengals had walk-up Sunday sellouts against Chicago and Tennessee in 2001.

SHOW A LITTLE FAITH: Even though he has fumbled a punt in the fourth quarter of the last two games, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh will be the Bengals' punt returner again Sunday.

Coach Dick LeBeau made the announcement Wednesday.

INJURY UPDATE: Kickoff returner Brandon Bennett remains questionable for the Ravens game. He has a hyperextended right knee.

If Bennett can't play, Houshmandzadeh also will return kickoffs.

Defensive end Vaughn Booker (rib cage) is questionable, too.

The biggest question mark for the Ravens is cornerback Chris McAlister, who is questionable with a knee injury. He has not played in the past three games, including the Ravens' 38-27 victory Nov.10 at Baltimore.

OH-FOR-FIVE: The Bengals are 0-5 against their AFC North division rivals. Sunday's game is their last chance to avoid being swept.

YARDS, NOT WINS: The Bengals have posted five consecutive games of 250 net offensive yards for the first time since 1988.

The Bengals have averaged 369.6 yards against their last five opponents - Tennessee, Houston, Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The Bengals are averaging 26 points a game in those five but have won just once.

FOOD DRIVE: Canned and other non-perishable food products will be collected before Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium.

The drive will benefit the FreeStore/FoodBank, which serves needy people in 20 counties in southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana.

The Bengals hold this drive annually during the holiday season.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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