UPDATE: The Pittsburgh Steelers-Buffalo Bills game has been postponed due to inclement weather in the Buffalo area. Originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Highmark Stadium, it has been moved to Monday at 4:30 p.m.
It also adds D.K. McDonald, Defensive Backs Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, to the list of players and coaches with William & Mary ties. McDonald coached defensive backs at William & Mary in 2011.
WILLIAMSBURG — While not official, many are referring to the upcoming playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills as the William & Mary Bowl.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Bills head coach Sean McDermott will face off Sunday in the first round of the playoffs. The two were teammates during their time on the gridiron at William & Mary.
Tomlin, a Class of 1995 graduate, earned a degree in sociology. Tomlin was a three-year starter for the Tribe, playing wide receiver. He finished his career with 101 receptions for a total of 2,054 yards. In 1994, he was selected first team All Yankee Conference.
McDermott, a Class of 1998 graduate, earned a degree in finance. McDermott played in all 46 games of his career for the Tribe as a defensive back, starting every game in his junior and senior seasons. He helped the Tribe earn the Yankee Conference title in 1996 and also earned Academic All-Conference Honors in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, he was named a National Strength and Conditioning All-American.
Tomlin’s Steelers will travel to Highmark Stadium to face off against McDermott’s Bills. According to early odds, the Bills are favored to win the matchup by at least 10 points.
William & Mary is well-represented in the NFL playoffs this season. Other players and coaches headed to the postseason are Joe Brady (Quarterback coach/Offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills), Colby Sorsdal (Offensive tackle, Detroit Lions), DJ Mangas (Offensive aide for Buffalo Bills), Dan Quinn (Defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys), DeAndre Houston-Carson (Safety for the Houston Texans), David Corley (Assistant quarterback coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers), Kevin Rogers (senior offensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns), D.K. McDonald (Defensive Backs coach, Philadelphia Eagles) and Owen Wright (Running back for the Baltimore Ravens).
Week one of the NFL playoffs begins with the wild card games. On Saturday, Jan. 13, the 4:30 p.m. game will see the AFC’s fifth-seeded Cleveland Browns take on the fourth-seeded Houston Texans (NBC), the 8 p.m. matchup sees the AFC’s sixth-seeded Miami Dolphins face the third-seeded Kansas City Chiefs (Peacock).
On Sunday, Jan. 14, the 1 p.m. game features the AFC’s seventh-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers against the second-seeded Buffalo Bills (CBS). The 4:30 p.m. game will see the NFC’s seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers take on the second-seeded Dallas Cowboys (FOX). The 8 p.m. game has the NFC’s sixth-seeded Los Angeles Rams playing the third-seeded Detroit Lions (NBC).
Wild card weekend wraps on Monday, Jan. 15 with an 8:15 p.m. primetime matchup between the NFC’s fifth-seeded Philadelphia Eagles and the fourth-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ESPN/ABC).
The first-seeds both have first-round byes: the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC and the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC.
For the most up-to-date playoff information, visit nfl.com.
