Belichick: Colts' Hilton should have been ejected Saturday

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick doesn't understand why Indianapolis Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton wasn't tossed from Saturday night's game for contacting an official.

Hilton pushed an official following a post-play fight between Patriots defensive back Kyle Dugger and Colts wideout Michael Pittman in the third quarter. Dugger and Pittman were ejected, but Hilton avoided any repercussions.

"Bottom line is both players got ejected. I would say I understand that. Whether I agree with it or not, that's a whole another discussion," Belichick said, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "I don't understand why T.Y. Hilton wasn't ejected for contacting an official. Intentionally or unintentionally, that has no bearing on the play. And those plays are reviewable and are reviewed."

Belichick added: "Based on the rule, I don't see why T.Y. Hilton wasn't ejected. I mean, he pushed an official. That was pretty clear. But that wasn't called at all. That's a clear-cut ejection to me."

The rivalry between the two AFC foes boiled over in the third quarter. Pittman and Dugger got physical before the Colts wideout was shoved into the Patriots defensive back, resulting in a full-blown tussle.

"Pittman comes from behind, Kyle turns around, there's an exchange," Belichick said. "Pittman's helmet was off, he was trying to put his helmet on as he approached Kyle at the end of the play. So it came off pretty quickly - I don't know whether Kyle knocked it off or it would have come off anyway."

Emotions continued to spill over postgame, with Carson Wentz saying Patriots linebacker Matt Judon went after the Colts quarterback's "ability to reproduce."

The Colts emerged from the tense prime-time matchup with a 27-17 victory.