The Sports Monitor

Gobble, gobble, gobble.

It's still too early to talk about the playoffs for the Pittsburgh Steelers. I know it's nice to think positive, but before you can entertain thoughts about the postseason, the team should be at least .500. We'll know a lot more about the direction of the team in the next week-and-a-half. The Steelers face the Browns on a Sunday and then have the Ravens on Thanksgiving. Win them both, and we can talk playoff scenarios. Lose one or both, and talk draft picks.

The Steelers won Sunday, which is a good thing. The defense caused trouble and had some sacks, too. Also a good thing. But is it time to celebrate that everything is OK in Steeler Land? Nope. Look no further than the opponent for a reason why. The Buffalo Bills were starting a rookie QB, EJ Manuel, who was making his first appearance after an injury. The Bills' best player, C.J. Spiller, is a shell of himself. The Bills' best wide receiver, Stevie Johnson, is hurt. Hats off to the Steelers for taking care of business at home. But things aren't all that better. But maybe things are pointed in the right direction.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had better teams lose to the Oakland Raiders, so it should come as no surprise that this one lost Sunday. What was surprising was the first play for Oakland. I'm not sure I can remember nearly an entire defense going for a fake by quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Just like that, a 93-yard TD. The longest ever by a QB. Game over. Yeah, I know the Steelers had their chances. If Shaun Suisham doesn't miss two field goals then they might even win that game. The first play set the tone. This season is over. Hopefully, that game was the bottom. Up next, a test against the Patriots.

The Pirates' first playoff appearance in more than 20 years brought back memories from their last run in the early 1990s. I was lucky to attend college in Pittsburgh then, so I was in the middle of all the activity in the playoffs. I even attended playoff games in 1991 and '92. I also remember heading out to Point State Park and listen to the reaction to the crowd and the play-by-play on the radio. I also miss hearing Lanny Frattare. But it's a new generation and finally a team fit for playing in a jewel of a ballpark at PNC Park. Have any memories you'd like to share? Let's go Bucs.

The Pirates got some good news in their pennant chase Friday night. First, they beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that's trying to be a wild-card contender. Second, the Cardinals lost to the Cubbies, giving the Pirates a three-game lead in the NL Central. Finally, the surging Reds blew a lead in the ninth and lost. That's a better feeling than after Starling Marte's dropped fly ball.

Pirates Nation can breathe a sigh of relief. Francisco Liriano erased the bad memories of Tuesday night's loss to the Cardinals with a complete-game gem Wednesday night. Liriano needed just 94 pitches to turn back the Cards in a 5-1 win. It was enough to forget Starling Marte's blunder in the ninth last night. Marte furthered his redemption with a two-run double to give the Pirates a 5-0 lead. The Pirates got a boost before Marte with homers from Garrett Jones and Pedro Alvarez. It's a big win to ease worries about any potential collapse. It was another superb start from Liriano. The Bucs now lead the Cards by three games in the NL Central and the Reds by 3.5 games.