The 2018 mid-term election is history now. Praise be.

It was a tough, expensive campaign that sometimes turned muddy, even bloody. Pundits from across the political spectrum concur that President Donald Trump’s insinuation of himself into the frey ignited and permeated the campaign with an undeniable air of winner-take-all competition.

Well, now that it’s over, let’s review one point: there’s a big difference between playing hard and playing dirty. There is a distinct difference, and denizens of the political world seem unclear over the dividing lines.

For many years, National Football League fans from Western Pennsylvania have looked west for a clinical example of dirty play: Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

How dirty? In his five and a half seasons with the Bengals, Burfict has accumulated $4.15 million in fines and forfeited salary for low blows, cheap shots and twisting opposing players’ ankles.

What Steelers fan can forget the 2016 AFC Wild Card Round, when Burfict’s shot to the head of receiver Antonio Brown drew a critical penalty that converted 4th and 3 into a first down and winning field goal for Pittsburgh.

That was just plain stupid and undisciplined — and a metaphor for the path our nation is on politically if we don’t alter our direction.

It’s been a tradition that Burfict and his teammates in Cincinnati lead the conference in penalties and penalty yardage. But seasons and circumstances are fluid and ever-changing: this year it’s our own Steelers leading the way down the path of shame, assessed 74 yellow flags and 691 yards so far in 2018. By comparison, the Bengals have committed only 51 penalties for a paltry 458 yards.

The Steelers have been much improved lately, but a month ago, national sportswriters were describing Pittsburgh’s defense in words and phrases ordinarily reserved for Cincinnati — undisciplined, slow, mediocre ... dirty players.

Unsportsmanlike conduct is as ugly in the political arena as it is on the gridiron. It’s equally distasteful in the stands.

From here on out, let’s commit to being good sports.