PITTSBURGH—If an alien spacecraft touched down in Pittsburgh this week, the visitors would be led to believe a couple things about the local sporting scene. First, they would assume it is a miserable football town, where a band of weaklings called the Steelers are a constant source of shame. Next, they would deduce that humans here try to erase their football sorrows by turning to the real pride of the city, the victorious Pittsburgh Pirates.

And here's the crazy thing: For the moment, they'd be right.

With the Steelers at 0-4, their worst start since 1968, the Pirates just finished their first winning season since 1992 and will host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in the National League wild-card game (8 p.m. ET, TBS). Steel City's alternate universe has become its reality.

After the Steelers lost, 34-27, to the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday, several hundred Pirates fans clad in black and yellow crowded into Pittsburgh's Market Square for a lunchtime rally on Monday.

"Normally I would be stroked out, but I'm giving the Steelers a pass this year, because the Buccos are carrying the city of Pittsburgh on their backs," said Steve Palchak, wearing a Roberto Clemente jersey and standing on a chair while hoisting a Pirates flag above the crowd.