The NFL has granted a second, final 24-hour extension of its television blackout deadline for the Arizona Cardinals’ wildcard playoff game tomorow against Atlanta.

The team has until 2:30 p.m. today to sell its remaining tickets. A sellout crowd is necessary for the NFL to lift its blackout of the home television market.

The NFL had already extended the deadline 24 hours to 2:30 p.m. yesterday. In a news release, the team said 3,700 tickets remained.

“Based on the activity we’ve seen the last couple of days and particularly in the last 24 hours, we’re very optimistic that this extension will get us where we need to be,” said Ron Minegar, the Cardinals’ executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Meanwhile, plenty of good seats are still available for Minnesota’s playoff game against Philadelphia.

The Vikings reported 8,000 tickets remaining at noon yesterday for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. The NFL has granted an extension until 3:30 p.m. local time today to reach a virtual sellout, but the possibility of a local TV blackout looms.

The blackout would not only encompass the Twin Cities, but secondary markets in the region as well. It includes satellite, cable and over-the-air systems, so nobody in the area could watch the game unless they’re in attendance at the Metrodome.

Vice president of sales and marketing Steve LaCroix said the team has hired extra holiday help to solicit potential buyers. The Vikings haven’t had a game blacked out since 1997.

ROUNDUP

TWO CHARGERS IFFY: Chargers stars LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates missed a second straight practice yesterday as San Diego continued to prepare for its home wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts tomorrow night. It sounds as if Tomlinson, who has a strained groin, is in better shape than Gates, who has a sprained ankle. “If we were playing today he probably wouldn’t play,” coach Norv Turner said about Gates, the Pro Bowl tight end. And L.T.? “Yeah, I think he would,” the coach said. “Both of them are a lot better than they have been,” Turner said. “It really will be a Saturday decision, how they feel. We’ll get them out there and run around and see how they feel. I’m optimistic about both of them.” Tomlinson said he felt better than he did on Sunday night, when he was hurt in San Diego’s 52-21 win against Denver that clinched the AFC West for the Chargers (8-8). By tomorrow night, “hopefully it will be good enough to be productive,” Tomlinson said. “I hope to play, but ultimately it’s not really my decision,” he added. “Gameday, we’ll see how coach feels and what he wants to do. But hopefully I’ll be able to go.” Tomlinson had his first three-touchdown game of the season Sunday night. With 1,110 yards rushing, the 2006 NFL MVP had the worst season of his otherwise brilliant eight-year career.

BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD: The Steelers are sitting where every NFL team wants to be this weekend, at home with a short path to the Super Bowl awaiting them. The problem: This is a road the Steelers frequently travel, but with little success. This is the seventh time in 16 years the Steelers have been first- or second-seeded with a bye in the AFC playoffs, and not once has the bye translated into a Super Bowl victory. They’ve made the Super Bowl only once under such a scenario, losing to Dallas to end the 1995 season. In 1992, they didn’t make it out of the divisional round as the AFC’s top-seeded team, losing at home to Buffalo 24-3 in former coach Bill Cowher’s first season. The next five times they were seeded first or second, they won their divisional game, only to lose four AFC title games at home and one Super Bowl.

INJURY ISSUES FOR VIKINGS: The Vikings could be without 50 percent of their defensive line for Sunday’s playoff game against the Eagles. Defensive end Ray Edwards has not practiced this week because of a knee injury, and nose tackle Pat Williams was limited for a second consecutive day yesterday as he tries to return from a broken right shoulder blade. While Williams sounded optimistic earlier in the week, coach Brad Childress said this week that Williams could run the risk of doing further damage and indicated the team will be cautious with him. Williams’ biggest issue involves range of motion. “He’s going to try to do a little bit more every time he comes out there,” Childress said. “It’s probably truly a game-time decision.”

JETS TALK TO THEIR OWN: The interview process for who becomes the 15th full-time coach of the Jets starts today from within, as offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and offensive line/assistant head coach Bill Callahan will interview for the position. Both are considered longshots, though Callahan could be an interesting wild card. He coached the Raiders from 2002-03, winning the AFC West title in 2002 and leading Oakland to that season’s Super Bowl. Before joining the Jets last offseason, Callahan, in four seasons as Nebraska’s head coach, led the Cornhuskers to a 27-22 record and two bowl appearances. Callahan had long been known as an offensive line specialist, and the Jets’ line, rebuilt after being one of the worst in the league in 2007, responded to Callahan, whom players respected as a great teacher. Schottenheimer probably was a better head coach candidate after 2006. His name started to circulate with the league after some of his innovative offensive approaches helped the Jets to a surprising 10-6 finish that year. But his stock took a major hit with the Jets’ 4-12 record in 2007 and with this year’s offense never seeming to find an identity. In fairness, Schottenheimer spent an entire offseason preparing for either Kellen Clemens or Chad Pennington to be his quarterback, then had Brett Favre thrust on him two weeks into training camp.