WALLINGFORD - As New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw a 36-yard pass to tight end Chris Baker for the touchdown that ended up sealing the game, fans watching the game at Grand Central Cafe erupted in cheers Sunday afternoon.

Patriots fans in Wallingford have to get used to the setting, as they are faced with the same dilemma other Patriots fans in Connecticut have dealt with when the game is not televised locally. They either miss the game or fin d a friend or sports bar with DirectTV's NFL Sunday Ticket.

"I think it's a tragedy. I don't understand why Comcast would do something like this," Chuck Maietto of Cheshire said after stopping at a few different places to find a place to watch the game. "It's like they don't appreciate the fan the way they should. I don't think it's fair."

Comcast, which holds the cable television franchise for Wallingford, removed WNYW, the Fox network's New York affiliate. from its lineup three months ago. The cable system now only has one channel to show National Football Conference games and interconference games involving NFC teams as the visitors. CBS shows AFC games and interconference games with AFC teams as the visitors.

The Patriots, an AFC team, are usually shown on CBS, but the Atlanta Falcons, an NFC team, were the visitors Sunday, putting the game on Fox. The New York Giants, an NFC team, were playing another NFC team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home. Since both games started at the same time, Fox's lone Connecticut affiliate, WTIC-TV, had to choose which game to carry. It chose the Giants game.

"It's not right. They should have one New York game on TV, not both," said Wallingford resident Dave Morris as he sat watching the Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons on DirectTV. "You shouldn't have to pay for the special NFL deals to be able to watch the game at home." The other New York team, the Jets, had its game against the Tennessee Titans televised locally on WFSB.

Though they were not too happy about it, the nine fans at Grand Central Cafe seemed happy to be at a bar watching the game with other fans. Grand Central, a Miami Dolphins-themed sports bar, was one of the few places in Wallingford showing the Patriots game.

"I should be at home with my feet up watching the game," Stan Jepson of Cheshire said of the game not being available at home.

Jepson sat at the bar in his Tom Brady shirt eating a burger while occasionally ordering a drink with other Patriots fans. All said they would have been at home if the game were broadcast but were in pretty good spirits as the Patriots went on to beat the Falcons 26-10.

rrathsack@record-journal.com

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