Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh is happy with what he sees in the morning session of training camp on August 5, 2009. Photo Courtesy: (Jeff Weese/Flickr)
“Continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamedbefore him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28
Sometimes at the school where I teach, students who have gone on to high school will come back to serve as assistant coaches for the sports teams they played on when they were in middle school. They always feel honored to come back and help out the head coach. When they’ve been there a few times, sometimes the coach will let the student lead warm-ups or part of a practice while he goes on to take care of other things. No pressure, right? Wrong. Of course there’s pressure because the student wants to make sure the coach is pleased when he gets back. So he’s going to work extra hard to make sure he does all he can to be secure in the job he’s done while the coach was away.
Put yourself in the position of that assistant coach. You’re working with the team for a period of time, and you have a job to accomplish. You want to make the head coach proud.
Well, God is our head coach. He has called us and placed us in a position to carry out a specific task before He returns. It’s an honor for Him to have chosen us. We should do all we can to make sure we can be confident in and unashamed of the work we’ve done when He comes. What work are you doing for the Coach? Will He be proud of the job you’ve done so you can stand before Him confident and unashamed?
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 SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING EDDIE GEORGE
Eddie George played nine seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (1996-2003) and Dallas Cowboys (2004). He was selected 14th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Oilers after a stellar collegiate career at Ohio State, where he won the 1995 Heisman Trophy.
In 2011, George was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and in 2019 his number 27 was retired by the Titans.
Currently, George is in his first season as the head coach at Bowling Green State University, after spending four years as Tennessee State’s head coach (2021-24).
Today on the podcast, fellow Pro Bowl running backs Matt Forte and Eddie George discuss George’s strong faith in Jesus Christ, rededicating his life to the Lord, why ballet is something that helped him as a running back, and lessons he learned in college at Ohio State.
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Scott Cochran is the head football coach at the University of West Alabama and an eight-time national championship-winning strength and conditioning coach with LSU, Alabama and Georgia. His new book, “Skull Session: Mastering the Mental Game in Sports, Work, and Life,” is out now.
Today on the podcast, Scott Cochran shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery and coaching. He discusses his struggles with addiction, the pivotal moments that led to his recovery, and how his faith played a crucial role in his transformation. He emphasizes the importance of living one day at a time, building strong relationships with athletes, and redefining success beyond accolades.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING DABO SWINNEY
Dabo Swinney is the football head coach at Clemson University. Since taking over the program midway through the 2008 season, he has led the Tigers to nine ACC titles, seven College Football Playoff appearances, and two national championships.
Today on the podcast, Dabo Swinney joins host Matt Forte to share his unique journey from a poverty-stricken childhood in Alabama to becoming a national championship-winning head coach. He also shares about how he got the nickname “Dabo,” as well as the importance of his faith in Jesus and how God has uniquely positioned him as a football coach. Swinney also previews the 2025 season and the massive season-opening showdown at home against No. 9 LSU on Saturday.
"Probably the greatest accomplishment that I've had to this point is to see my three sons come to Christ and to know Him as their Lord and Savior." – Clemson Football Coach Dabo Swinney pic.twitter.com/uYTmjMphlf
