Chung will likely be getting a letter from the league office for a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Patrick Chung laid a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit on Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts during the fourth quarter that drew an unnecessary-roughness penalty.
Shorts being defended by Devin McCourty when he went over the middle, at which point Chung came across from the other direction and drilled Shorts in the head. The Jaguars receiver had to be helped off the field following the incompletion.
The play appeared to cross the line on initial viewing, but Chung's teammates came to his defense after the game.
"I don't think he was out try to make a head-to-head shot like that," defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. "It's football, sometimes you get bad breaks, sometimes you get a situations where you have to be able to – it's a ball and it's a defender, and you have to make a decision. It's a split second. Nobody understands that except for the guy being in that position."
Wilfork did later concede that play was illegal.
"It cost us a penalty and I'm pretty sure he'll be getting a letter (from the league offices). "
Coach Bill Belichick agreed that hits like Chung's are unavoidable.
"I don't know," Belichick said. "I mean, I don't know what he could have done. I don't know."
Chung made up for the penalty with a pass breakup and interception on the final drive.