Three Rivers Stadium

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher called it a playoff atmosphere. It was that and a little more at Three Rivers Stadium yesterday. It was a time for everyone associated with the Steelers to remember the championships while celebrating a 24-3 victory over the Washington Redskins. The Steelers played their final game at Three Rivers Stadium after 31 seasons and four Super Bowl championships. Many members of those famed teams of the 1970s were in attendance. "I know this wasn't an actual playoff game, but it was for us, and it had that atmosphere," Cowher said.

They came back to M&T Bank Stadium Sunday looking a little older and grayer, some looking as if they hadn't missed too many buffets and others as if they had joint-replacement surgery scheduled in the morning. Didn't matter. Oh, did the sell-out crowd show them some love. These were the Super Bowl XXXV-champion Ravens, some 35 members of that team, anyway, in town to celebrate the 10th anniversary of that title. They formed a gantlet during the pre-game introductions and slapped hands with the current Ravens as they raced out of the tunnel.

Astros: Finished 5-7 against Pittsburgh, losing five of six at Three Rivers Stadium. The game was played in 2 hours, 3 minutes.

IRVING, Texas - For all those conspiracy theorists who believe the NFL is out to get Baltimore - especially after Sunday's controversial finish - tonight won't change your mind. As the Ravens make their final push toward the playoffs, they must overcome another roadblock laid down by the league. The Ravens (9-5) play the Dallas Cowboys (9-5) in the final game scheduled at Texas Stadium, a situation in which it is usually tough to pull out a victory. Since the beginning of the 1996 season, teams are 11-2 in the last regular-season games at their old stadiums before relocating to new ones.

Opponent: Pittsburgh SteelersWhen: Sunday, 1 p.m.Site: Three Rivers Stadium, PittsburghTV/Radio: Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WLIF (101.9 FM)Line: Steelers by 1 1/2

Braves: Atlanta has hit 43 homers during the record streak. Greg Maddux has won his past three starts against the Reds, improving his record against Cincinnati to 13-11.Cardinals: St. Louis avoided falling below the .500 mark for the first time. St. Louis is 11-3 at Busch Stadium but 7-14 on the road.Marlins: Florida is 8-19 in the Astrodome.Rockies: Dante Bichette was 3-for-4, giving him five hits in his past seven at-bats since a 1-for-14 slide. Vinny Castilla, a .195 career hitter in Three Rivers Stadium, was 1-for-4.

Quote: "This is the greatest place I ever played." -- Don Sutton, in Milwaukee to throw out the first pitch for the Braves' first visit since leaving after the 1965 season.It's a fact: The Mets are 8-2 against Pittsburgh in Shea Stadium the past two seasons but are only 2-4 in Three Rivers Stadium.Who's hot: The Pirates' Jason Schmidt has given up 11 runs and 36 hits in 42 2/3 innings over his past six starts, winning five.Who's not: The Rockies' Mike Lansing is in a 12-for-83 slump (.145)

PITTSBURGH -- The Cincinnati Reds' Danny Jackson went about his pre-game preparations as usual yesterday realizing he might not have had to pitch."In my mind," he said before the Pittsburgh Pirates' 3-2 victor over his team last night, "I believe I am pitching Friday one way or the other."Jackson, the Reds' scheduled starter in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, said: "I threw on the side as though I am pitching. And if that changes after the game, I'll change my mental approach."

Site: Three Rivers Stadium, PittsburghTime: 9TV/Radio: Chs. 2, 7/WBAL (1090 AM)Records: Browns 4-5, Steelers 5-4.Line: Steelers by 6.Last week: The Steelers beat the Chicago Bears, 37-34, in overtime. The Browns lost to the Houston Oilers, 37-10.Last meeting: The Steelers won, 29-9, at Three Rivers Stadium in an AFC semifinal playoff game last January. It was the Steelers' third win over the Browns last season.The series: The Browns lead 52-38, but Pittsburgh has won four straight.On the sidelines: Bill Belichick is 36-39 in his fifth season with the Browns.

PITTSBURGH -- Kordell Stewart is an old-fashioned triple threat player.The rookie quarterback-wide receiver from Colorado threw a touchdown pass, ran twice for 13 yards on option plays and caught two passes for 21 yards to help the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns, 20-3, last night at Three Rivers Stadium."

It's a fact The Padres are 4-2 at PNC Park after going 72-106 at Three Rivers Stadium from 1970 to 2000. Milestone Roger Clemens of the Yankees moved into a tie for 25th place with Ferguson Jenkins with his 284th victory. The number 2.70: The ERA of Devil Rays starter Paul Wilson since last summer's All-Star break, best in the AL during that span. Who's hot Alex Rodriguez of the Rangers is batting .372 (35-for-94) with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in his past 24 games. Who's not Albie Lopez of the Braves is 0-5 in nine starts since last Aug. 22. Line of the day Barry Bonds, Giants OF AB .....

SEPT. 9 Chicago 1 p.m., PSINet Stadium, Ch. 45 Ravens seek revenge against Bears' James Allen, the last running back to break 100 yards against them. SEPT. 17 Minnesota 9 p.m., PSINet Stadium, Ch. 2 Ravens' first-ever Monday night game features coach Brian Billick against his ex-boss, Dennis Green. SEPT. 23 at Cincinnati 1 p.m., Paul Brown Stadium, Ch. 13 Ravens haven't lost in the Queen City since 1997; this game begins a stretch of six of eight on the road. SEPT. 30 at Denver 4:15 p.m., Invesco Field, Ch. 13 Shannon Sharpe makes his first trip back to Denver, where he won two Super Bowl rings.

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher called it a playoff atmosphere. It was that and a little more at Three Rivers Stadium yesterday. It was a time for everyone associated with the Steelers to remember the championships while celebrating a 24-3 victory over the Washington Redskins. The Steelers played their final game at Three Rivers Stadium after 31 seasons and four Super Bowl championships. Many members of those famed teams of the 1970s were in attendance. "I know this wasn't an actual playoff game, but it was for us, and it had that atmosphere," Cowher said.

PITTSBURGH - Washington Redskins interim coach Terry Robiskie knows his team is at a disadvantage. It is facing the memories of the greatness of the old Pittsburgh Steelers teams and the desperation of today's version in what will be the final game at Three Rivers Stadium. The Steelers still have an outside chance of making the playoffs, as do the Redskins, but won't go if they lose today. Just as important are the 60,000 fans expected to pack Three Rivers for the last time and the 40 former players that will roam the sideline expecting one last Steelers win. Pittsburgh won four Super Bowl titles during the 1970s and will have many key players from those teams in attendance.

Scouting report Ravens rushing vs. Steelers run defense STEELERS The Ravens' running game was inconsistent in the preseason, averaging 3.8 yards a carry and 104.5 a game. That included a couple of long quarterback scrambles, however. RB Priest Holmes looked good in his limited time. How the Ravens use Jamal Lewis is still in question. Cohesiveness could be an issue on the right side, where new guard Mike Flynn and tackle Harry Swayne played in only two games. The Steelers were tough against the run in five preseason games, giving up 3.1 an attempt and 83.8 a game.

PITTSBURGH -- In the inglorious quarterback tradition of a franchise from which Johnny Unitas was once jettisoned and Terry Bradshaw felt so assailed that he still holds a grudge a generation later, this week a Steelersstarter from the past ripped into the Steelers' starter of the present. Mark Malone, in an ESPN.com essay about 10 things to watch for in this 2000 NFL season, wrote this as Item No. 6: "Worst off-season addition: Kent Graham. Do they really want the fate of their season and their offense in this guy's hands?

Quote: "He drives so fast, I have no idea where we live. I just hold on for dear life." - new Met Rick White, on roommate and fellow reliever Turk Wendell It's a fact: The Brewers are the only major-league team that hasn't had a four-game winning streak. They've won three in a row five times. Who's hot: Pat Burrell, who didn't join the Phillies until May 24, leads NL rookies in home runs, RBIs and extra-base hits. Who's not: The Pirates' Warren Morris is in a 1-for-20 slump. On deck: Closing ceremonies for the Oct. 1 Three Rivers Stadium finale include a reunion of the battery that opened the park on July 16, 1970.

Astros: The concrete curb that lines the visiting bullpen in left field in new Enron Field is already a concern after Roger Cedeno ran into it chasing a fly ball and turned his ankle on it Monday night. "We've got to get rid of it," GM Gerry Hunsicker said. "We've talked with the contractors and told them we have to rectify it. How it will be done is debatable. Hopefully, it will be done while we're on our next road trip." Dodgers: Kevin Elster is the first Dodger to hit three home runs in a game since Mike Piazza did it at Colorado on June 29, 1996.