LEWISTON – If you like to stay home to scream and throw things at the TV when the Patriots are in a big game, Thursday might be rough.

While the Pats will throw down with the New York Jets for first place, an equal battle continues between the NFL and the big cable companies.

The result? The crucial game on Thursday will not be available to some cable subscribers, meaning many will have to head to the bars to catch the action.

The conundrum is becoming a perennial one. Last year, the Patriots were facing off against the New York Giants in the final week. They were going for a perfect 16-0 record, but it looked as though most homes would not pick up the game. Then the NFL backed down and allowed CBS and NBC to broadcast the game.

There is no sign that the NFL will be as bending on Thursday. And because of that, fans who get their cable through companies like Comcast and Time Warner will be unable to watch the game at home. Those companies and others have not reached an agreement with the NFL.

If you subscribe to DirecTV, the Dish Network or Oxford Networks, you will likely be OK. You can stay home and jump up and down on the coffee table all you want because those companies have picked up the NFL Network.

At Flagship Cinemas in Auburn, an employee said the phone had been ringing off the hook all day Wednesday. That’s because Flagship typically broadcasts the games in high definition and digital sound.

Not on Thursday. Because of the cable company Flagship uses, it will not be able to tune in, just like 60 percent of households across the nation.

That means if you are with a cable company that doesn’t carry the NFL Network, you have only a few choices. You can be real nice to a friend with an NFL-friendly network. Or you can head to the bars.

Fortunately, the latter option leaves many choices.

In Auburn, Gritty McDuff’s on Court Street and Gipper’s Sports Grill on Center Street will have the game on Thursday night.

In Lewiston, fans can find the action at Fast Breaks and Gridiron Restaurant on Lisbon Street and Little Joe’s Chuck Wagon on Sabattus Street.

As of Wednesday night, the New England Patriots and New York Jets were tied for first place in the East Division of the American Football Conference. The game to break that tie will get under way at 8:15 p.m.

Although television options are limited, the game will be on the radio. Locally, it’s on WBLM, 102.9 FM.