New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has slammed Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker for deliberately hitting Aqib Talib to take him out of the AFC championship game.

Welker, playing against his former club, ran into Talib as the cornerback was trying to cover Demaryius Thomas on a crossing route in the second quarter of their clash, which forced the 27-year-old out of the game.

This proved to hold a major impact as the Patriots struggled to cover Thomas without Talib on the field and fell to a 10-point loss at Sports Authority Field.

"It was a deliberate play by the receiver to take out Aqib. No attempt to get open," Belichick told reporters. "I'll let the league handle the discipline on that play, whatever they decide.

"It's one of the worst plays I've seen. That's all I'll say about that."

Welker played for the Patriots for six seasons from 2007 to 2012.