Major league veteran Lance Berkman in 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Lance Berkman played 15 seasons in the major leagues (1999-2013), where he was named to six All-Star Games and won a World Series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was recently hired as the head baseball coach at Houston Baptist University.
He and Scott Linebrink have been friends for a long time and both share a heart for missions and living an intentional life for Christ. In this episode of “Get in the Game,” they talk about what it looks like to live out their faith authentically in the world of sports with a heart of service for others.
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans smiles during an NFL wild-card playoff game, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Defense travels.
That was certainly the case Monday night, as the AFC’s No. 5 seed — the Houston Texans — traveled to Pittsburgh and defeated the No. 4-seeded Steelers in decisive fashion, 30-6, to complete the final piece of the NFL divisional-round playoff puzzle. It was the Texans’ first road playoff win in the franchise’s 24-year history. Previously, they were 0-6.
Leaning on the league’s stingiest defense built by third-year head coach (and former Texans defensive star) DeMeco Ryans, Houston had built a white-hot nine-game winning streak to finish the regular season. It extended the streak to 10 by doing the exact same thing on Monday.
Houston clung to a tight 7-6 lead entering the fourth quarter, and then came alive. Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 51-yard field goal with 13:07 left. Then on the ensuing Pittsburgh possession, Texans defensive end Will Anderson hit Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who fumbled. Fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins picked up the loose ball and ran it back for a 33-yard touchdown.
The Texans’ defense forced Pittsburgh to punt and the offense then responded with an 11-play, 87-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by running back Woody Marks. But it was the defense, again, which put the finishing touches on Houston’s historic victory.
With less than three minutes remaining, Rodgers launched a pass deep downfield that was intercepted by Houston safety Calen Bullock Jr. at the 50 yard-line. Bullock returned it down the left sideline for the Texans’ second defensive touchdown of the game and their final points in the 30-6 win.
It was a dominant defensive performance indeed, but one that was by no means surprising. The Texans boasted the NFL’s No. 1 defense in 2025-26, leading the way with the fewest yards allowed per game (277.2) during the regular season. They also forced the third-most turnovers (29) and allowed the second-fewest points per game (17.4).
“First and foremost for me,” Ryans said to begin his press conference, “I just want to give all praise, honor and glory to our God, who’s been gracious to us, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“What a game. What a performance by our guys. Guys just continue to let their light shine through how they’re playing.”
On the back of his great defense that shined once again on Monday, Ryans led his team to an incredible mid-season turnaround to reach the playoffs for the third time in his three seasons at the helm. The Texans began this season with three straight losses but finished 12-5, becoming only the fifth team since 1990 to start a season 0-3 and reach the playoffs. Houston is now the first franchise to do it twice, having accomplished the feat in 2018 as well.
Houston’s players and coaches have seemed to rally around the Biblical concept from Matthew 5:16 of letting their light shine as they’ve compiled their impressive winning streak. Ryans expanded a bit about it after a Dec. 27 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“The light is shining bright on the Texans, but that light is really reflective of our guys’ belief in the Lord and Savior — our Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ,” he told the media that day. “That’s what’s driven our team, and I’m so proud of our guys and thankful to the Lord for allowing us to allow our lights to shine through Him.
“Just all praise and honor goes to Him.”
Anderson alluded to Matthew 5:16 in the aftermath of Monday’s game.
“First, I gotta give all glory to God,” Anderson told ESPN. “Thank You, Jesus Christ. We have a Scripture saying, ‘Let our light shine before You, God,’ that when people see us play, they glorify Your name. Just a shoutout to Jesus Christ.”
Ryans made it clear from his introductory press conference as head coach that, as he sought to lead his beloved Texans to greatness, he’d never forget to praise God or thank Him for the gift it is to have the opportunity.
“I’m thankful to God that He’s just paved the way for me through everything that I’ve been through in life,” Ryans said in February 2023.
Before the Super Bowl in 2020, when he was a San Francisco 49ers’ defensive assistant, Ryans revealed to Sports Spectrum his deepest motivations as a coach.
“You’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing, and that’s why we’re all here — and that’s by the grace of God,” Ryans said. “Why are we in the position that we’re in? Why are we able to do what we do? That’s by God blessing us with this awesome opportunity to reach back and teach these young men, help these young men, but we have to stay grounded in the Word.
“We can get caught up in our work, a lot of long hours, a lot of long days, but you can’t forget what sustains us, and that’s Jesus Christ.”
Ryans will lead the Texans on the road again in their divisional-round matchup against the No. 2-seeded New England Patriots, hoping for a repeat performance from his defense to earn Houston’s first AFC Championship Game appearance in franchise history. Yet all the while, he will continue to seek to integrate Biblical principles into his coaching, knowing that a win would be in vain if it doesn’t bring glory to Jesus Christ.
Kickoff from Foxborough is set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Our guest today is Christopher Malleo, an entrepreneur, author and speaker who played college football at Northwestern University.
Chris went on to coach high school football at the Peddie School in New Jersey, where he built a nationally ranked program that sent 48 players on to play college football, 44 on full scholarships, with several reaching the NFL. During his time at Peddie, Chris pioneered one of the most remarkable leadership stories in sports by hiring a coach with cerebral palsy.
Today, Chris is the founder of High Impact Man (HIM), his flagship coaching program that equips men to live with integrity, discipline and purpose. He is currently enrolled in Harvard Business School’s Authentic Leadership Development program, continuing his mission of teaching leadership, culture and performance at the highest levels.
Today on the podcast, Chris Malleo joins Scott Linebrink to share about his journey of faith; the profound impact of his relationship with Frankie Keneavy, a coach with cerebral palsy; and the lessons learned about leadership, love and community.
THIS IS SPORTS SPECTRUM’S WHAT’S UP PODCAST
WITH ANNABELLE HASSELBECK
On today’s episode of Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast, we have Creed Willems!
Creed discusses what he’s all about at the moment, getting drafted by the Baltimore Orioles, and the role that his relationship with Jesus has played in his baseball career.
The @Orioles No. 12 prospect and 2024 Surprise Saguaros slugger has homers in back-to-back games after a 436 foot blast yesterday. @CreedWillems11 is slugging .644 in the month of May with a 168 WRC+ and .997 OPS pic.twitter.com/E4bRB1UEvF
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) May 19, 2025
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING NOLAN MCLEAN
Nolan McLean is a pitcher with the New York Mets. He was selected in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft after being a two-way player in college at Oklahoma State. After turning pro, he focused on being a full-time pitcher, and in August 2025 he made his MLB debut with the Mets, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in earning his first MLB win. In his eight appearances this year, he went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings.
Today on the podcast, Matt Forte talks to Nolan McLean about his breakout 2025 season, making his MLB debut, choosing baseball over football at Oklahoma State, growing in his Christian faith, and why he posts his daily devotional to Instagram each day.
