Updated: 12:20 p.m.
Last week's Bengals-Rams game was the top-rated show among all TV programming in Greater Cincinnati for the week of Dec. 3-9, bringing to 50 the number of consecutive TV ratings weeks with a Bengals regular-season or postseason game in which the Bengals have been the top-rated show in the Cincinnati market.
The streak began in 2004, and it hit 50 when the Rams game drew a 28.1 rating. Another NFL game, the New England-Pittsburgh contest, was second at 22.1. The third-ranked program in Greater Cincinnati was the crime drama "CSI," at 16.7.
The rating number indicates the percentage of market households that were tuned to the game - including households not watching television at the time. The highest-rated Bengals game during the streak has been 45.5 for the Pittsburgh playoff game on Jan. 8, 2006.
The high rating of Bengals games has occurred despite the fact that most games are played in the afternoon, when overall TV viewership is not as high as it is during the evening.
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PRACTICE UPDATE:** Before the Bengals took that last train to The Coast Thursday afternoon, they practiced in Paul Brown Stadium. Linebacker Rashad Jeanty (knee) returned after missing Wednesday and Thursday. Right tackle Willie Anderson (knee) didn't and is going to miss his eighth straight game with the conventional wisdom he's done for the year.
TOEAINA TO BEARS: Rookie defensive tackle Matt Toeaina of Oregon has left the Bengals practice squad, signed to the 53-player roster by the Chicago Bears. Toeaina had been on the Cincinnati practice squad all season.
