Seven Former Tigers Ready for NFL Playoffs
1/11/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The NFL Playoffs begin on Saturday with seven former University of Missouri lettermen in the hunt for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Kris Abrams-Draine (Denver Broncos), Tyler Badie (Denver Broncos), Nick Bolton (Kansas City Chiefs), Charles Harris (Philadelphia Eagles), Ty-Ron Hopper (Green Bay Packers), Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Detroit Lions), and Cody Schrader (Los Angeles Rams) each helped their respective teams into the NFL postseason.
Bolton and the Chiefs earned a bye for wild card weekend (Jan. 11-13) after helping Kansas City (15-2) capture the AFC West championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference. During the divisional round (Jan. 18-19), the Chiefs will host the lowest remaining seed on the AFC side.
Staying on that side of the bracket, Abrams-Draine and Badie will take the field Saturday with No. 7 Denver when it travels to face No. 2 Buffalo. That contest is scheduled for Noon CT and will air live on CBS/Paramount+. The Broncos come into the contest with a 10-7 mark, while the Bills bring a 13-4 record into the game.
Rakestraw and the Lions (15-2) clinched the NFC North championship for the second consecutive season and earned the No. 1 seed in the conference for the first time in program history following last Sunday's victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit has a bye for wild card weekend and will host the lowest remaining seed on the NFC side for the divisional round.
Former Tigers Harris and Hopper will square off Saturday when No. 2 Philadelphia (14-3) and No. 7 Green Bay (11-6) meet during their wild card game. The contest between the Eagles and Packers at Lincoln Financial Field kicks off at 3:30 p.m. CT and will be carried live on Fox.
Fresh off his NFL debut last weekend, Schrader and the No. 4 Rams will host the No. 5 Vikings in Monday Night Football at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona after the wildfires and poor air quality forced the game out of Los Angeles. The Rams went 10-7 during the regular season, while the Vikings posted a 14-3 ledger. Monday's game is slated for 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ABC/ESPN.
A full list of the former Tigers NFL playoff picture is below.
AFC Wild Card Games: Jan. 11-13
No. 7 Denver Broncos (10-7) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4)
Sunday | Noon CT | CBS/Paramount+
Bye for No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
NFC Wild Card Games: Jan. 11-13
No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Sunday | 3:30 p.m. CT | Fox
No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (14-3) at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Monday | 7:00 p.m. CT | ABC/ESPN
*Game to be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Bye for No. 1 Detroit Lions (15-2)
Divisional Round: Jan. 18 & 19
No. 1-seeded Chiefs and Lions will host the lowest remaining seeds in their respective conferences
Conference Championships: Jan. 26
Super Bowl LIX: Feb. 9
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, La.)
Sunday | 5:30 p.m. CT | Fox
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