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Tensions boiled over in the Patriots-Colts matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. With just under six minutes to play in the third quarter, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran up the right side of the field for a 7-yard gain. Following that run, a skirmish broke out between both teams and resulted in Colts receiver Michael Pittman and Patriots safety Kyle Dugger being ejected from Saturday's contest. 

Pittman and Dugger seemed to get tangled on the run by Taylor, which started a shoving match between the two. After they separated, Dugger threw a punch in the direction of Pittman, who was almost simultaneously hit from behind by linebacker Kyle Van Noy. He then crashed into Dugger, which escalated the situation as the Patriots safety ripped off Pittman's helmet as they went to the ground. 

Things had been getting chippy between these teams throughout what has been a pretty lopsided affair in favor of the Colts, who have jumped out to a 20-0 lead through the first three quarters. Prior to his scuffle, Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon and quarterback Carson Wentz also seemed to have words and needed to be separated by DeForest Buckner. 

It has been a pretty undisciplined night for the Patriots as a whole as they had committed a number of uncharacteristic penalties and turnovers as they are on the brink of having their seven-game winning streak snapped. 

While the frustrations of those issues could be the cause for things getting a bit chippy on that sideline, Indy could also be riding the emotions of trying to keep its playoff hopes alive against a conference rival. This is also the first time that the Colts have hosted the Patriots since offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels backed out of their head coaching job back in 2018, so there could also be some agitation bleeding over from that storyline as well.