Patriots’ Kyle Dugger, Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr. ejected after helmet fracas

Patriots safety Kyle Dugger and Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. were ejected from Saturday night’s game after a helmet-related fracas.

Things are getting chippy between the Patriots and Colts in their Sunday night game. First, Indianapolis quarterback Carson Wentz got quite angry with New England edge-rusher Matthew Judon…

…and then, with 5:44 left in the third quarter of the game, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran for a seven-yard gain. And that’s when things got serious. Patriots safety Kyle Dugger and Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. got into it over the physicality of the run-blocking and run-stopping overall, which led to Pittman pushing Dugger, and Dugger responding by ripping Pittman’s helmet off. Then, the two players went to the ground.

It’s not great for either team. Dugger is one of the Patriots’ most important defenders in Bill Belichick’s defense — especially in dime packages — and Pittman leads the Colts in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns this season.