PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ first visit to the postseason in three years ended with their first home playoff loss in seven years and their third consecutive postseason loss, starting with their defeat to the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl after the 2011 season.

“It’s a disappointment,” coach Mike Tomlin said, “because our intentions were to be world champions and that’s something that we’re not going to be this year, based on the result of this game.”

Yet all in all, it was a successful season for a team that finished 8-8 in each of the past two seasons and has been overhauling its roster for several years after three visits to the Super Bowl in six seasons, including two winners.

Most of the improvement in an 11-5 season came on offense, which produced a big three of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell. The problem in Saturday’s 30-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field was simple: Bell, their MVP, did not play because of a hyperextended knee. Instead, the Steelers went with an undrafted rookie halfback, Josh Harris, playing in only his sixth game, and Ben Tate, a twice-discarded veteran this year who practiced with the team for the first time three days before the game.

So the offense that finished No. 2 in the NFL in total yards and No. 7 in scoring, had little threat of a ground game, plus lost its second-leading receiver in Bell, who caught 83 passes this season. They scored one touchdown, and that came after the defense gave them good field position by forcing a fumble.

“I believe it’s taken a step forward by the simple fact we got the North title, we made it to the playoffs,” veteran linebacker James Harrison said. “We took a step back as far as our play, from previous weeks to now, but the whole scheme of things from last year to this year was obviously a step in the right direction.”

For Roethlisberger, Saturday marked the third consecutive playoff defeat in which he had the ball in his hands with a chance to win or tie the game in the fourth quarter.

“I want to apologize to the fans, my teammates, to the organization, the Rooney’s and to coaches,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s just frustrating and I wish that I could apologize individually to everybody.”

The biggest concern remains on defense, where veterans of all three Super Bowls since 2005 are expected to either retire or be waived: safety Troy Polamalu, cornerback Ike Taylor, defensive end Brett Keisel and Harrison. Only Harrison, it would seem, has any chance of returning. Two of the four are former NFL defensive players of the year: Harrison in 2008 and Polamalu in 2010.

REPORT CARD VS. RAVENS:

PASSING OFFENSE: C-minus — Ben Roethlisberger completed 31 of 45 passes for 334 yards and one touchdown. He threw two interceptions in a game for only the third time (all losses) this season. He was sacked a season-high five times for the third time. His passer rating was 79.3, the fourth lowest of the season.

RUSHING OFFENSE: F — One possible reason for Roethlisberger’s passing performance was the lack of a running threat. With Le’Veon Bell out, the Steelers managed just 68 yards on 19 carries and 16 of those yards came on one quarterback scramble. Ben Tate even fumbled on the first series, although a teammate recovered it. Bell did not fumble all season.

PASS DEFENSE: D – Joe Flacco did not throw a lot, but he was effective most of the time when he did. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers allowed one completion on third-and-14 at Baltimore’s 12 that covered 17 yards on a drive that ended with a field goal, and another on third-and-13 that traveled 23 yards and led to another field goal. The Steelers had no interceptions and managed one sack. Flacco had a 114 passer rating.

RUSH DEFENSE: B — Baltimore ran 25 times for only 49 yards, a 2.0-yard average, but when they needed the run at the beginning, the Ravens got it. Bernard Pierce ran up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown to give Baltimore a 7-3 lead. The Ravens ran five times for 37 yards on that drive, including four times for the final 26 yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C — Shaun Suisham made all three of his field-goal attempts, but Mike Tomlin ordered a punt from the Ravens 37 rather than allow him to try a 55-yarder on the game’s first series. The Steelers failed on a two-point pass conversion try early in the fourth quarter. Shamarko Thomas blocked a Baltimore punt for a safety, but that came way too late, with just two minutes left in the game. Twice Markus Wheaton ran kickoffs out of the end zone that did not reach the 20.

COACHING: COACHING: C — Todd Haley had one hand tied behind his back as offensive coordinator with Bell out, but did he really have to have Ben Tate touch the ball on four of the first five plays from scrimmage? Tomlin considers himself aggressive, but ordered a punt at Baltimore’s 37-yard line on the first series rather than trying a 55-yard field goal. No major gaffes, and no big positives from them either.