Carlos Dunlap
Updated: 5 p.m.
Defensive leader Domata Peko is going to hear the roar of The Jungle again when the 9-5 Bengals try to keep their Paul Brown Stadium winning streak alive and clinch the AFC North with a victory over the Vikings in Sunday's 1 p.m. game.
The Bengals announced a sellout Friday, but a limited number of tickets on all three levels remain. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Bengals Ticket Hotline at 866-621-8383 (TDTD) or by clicking here.
The weather seems to be breaking with a forecast that is now calling for lingering showers at kickoff to give way to dry conditions most of the game.
"It's my eighth year here and I haven't heard The Jungle this loud (like) this year," Peko said this week. "We've had a full stadium and it's been disturbing the offenses for us. The 12th man has been great for us here and our team has been playing great at home."
The Bengals are giving up just 17 points a game this season at PBS while scoring 33 and holding foes to 25 percent on third down.
Head coach Marvin Lewis has been preaching the homefield advantage ever since he arrived here in 2003 after being brought up in the NFL before the powerful home crowds of "Blitzburgh" in the Pittsburgh of the '90s, and the crazed new home and franchise of the Ravens at the turn of the century in Baltimore.
But the best the Bengals could do at home was 6-2 in 2009, when they won the AFC North, and now they've already got six wins with two left. A win Sunday and it is their best home record since the '88 club went 8-0 and tacked on two more in the postseason to win the AFC.
"This is a tough division for (away) games. The home teams do well. It's tough on the road in this division," Lewis said.
Indeed in the 10 full seasons Lewis has been here, Baltimore (.788) and Pittsburgh (.725) have the NFL's second- and fourth-best home records with New England leading the way at .850. He's not sure why it has clicked all of a sudden this year.
"Whatever it is, let's bottle it up," he said with a laugh. "Don't want to talk about it. (The emphasis) never changed. You win your home games to be successful in the NFL. Win your home games, split your road games, and you're in pretty good shape. Win the games you're supposed to win and go 50-50 in the games you're even."
And then there are the turnovers.
"It comes down to the same principles of football," Lewis said. "Take care of the football and don't beat yourself."
In six home games, the Bengals are plus-five in turnovers. In eight road games they are minus-six.
The game can be seen on Cincinnati's Channel 19.
INJURY UPDATE:The Bengals went out to Friday morning's practice on the Paul Brown Stadium turf with their heavy hitters that missed Thursday with concussions and they went full go.
That is a good sign, but not definitive. Left end Carlos Dunlap suffered a concussion on the defense's last snap in Piitsburgh last Sunday and SAM linebacker James Harrison left with one in the first quarter. Left guard Andrew Whitworth was listed with one Thursday after Wednesday's practice. They were all called questionable even though they were full go in in Friday's last full-scale workout before Sunday's game (1 p.m., tickets still available) against the Vikings at PBS.
The Cincinnati defensive line rotation may take another shot. Tackle Devon Still (back) missed his second day of practice and is questionable. Cornerback Terence Newman,(knee) who hasn't practiced since he got injured 12 days ago is doubtful. Right guard Kevin Zeitler (foot) is also questionable even though he went full Friday after being limited Wednesday and Thursday. Tight end Jermaine Gresham (abdomen) went full all three days of practice and is probable.
In Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson (foot, groin) went limited Friday and is questionable.
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