In long season, Ravens saw plenty of highs and lows

It wasn’t just that the 35-31 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional playoff round ended the Ravens’ season as they appeared ready to become Super Bowl contenders. It was the manner in which it happened, the Ravens blowing two-touchdown leads in each half.  (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun)

The season narrative changed Sept. 8, when the video of Ray Rice’s assault on his then-fiancee was posted by TMZ. Rice was released, but the fallout cast a shadow over the the season. The Ravens blocked out the distractions and beat the Steelers, 26-6, three days later.  (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

Justin Forsett, originally thought to be a placeholder for Ray Rice, seized the starting running back job and was the key to the team’s revitalized rushing attack. He gained 1,266 yards on the ground, 263 more through the air and scored eight touchdowns.  (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

Remember when the Ravens’ biggest concern was right tackle? Second-year offensive lineman Rick Wagner established himself as the starter in training camp and consistently graded out as one of the top right tackles in football, according to Pro Football Focus.  (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)

There are several candidates, but second-year safety Matt Elam’s regression loomed large. He lost his starting job and his failure to make an open field tackle on Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola in the playoff game led to a touchdown and was a fitting end to a nightmare season for Elam.  (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun)

The Ravens didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher and finished with the NFL’s fourth-best rushing defense. Nose tackle Brandon Williams, a 2013 third-round pick, was a big reason why. There weren’t too many matchups Williams didn’t win.  (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

Tight end Dennis Pitta worked hard to come back from his dislocated and fractured right hip that cost him much of 2013. However, in the third game of the season, he again fractured and dislocated the same hip. He had season-ending surgery and his NFL career is in jeopardy.  (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

Joe Flacco had never thrown five touchdown passes in a game, but he threw that many in the first 16 minutes, three seconds vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 12. He went 21-of-28 for 308 yards and five touchdowns in the Ravens’ 48-17 win.  (Cliff McBride / Getty Images)

Trailing 15-0 in the third quarter against the Bengals in Week 1, the Ravens scored 16 straight points, the last coming on Flacco’s 80-yard TD pass to Smith, who caught the ball down the sideline and threw Bengals cornerback Adam Jones to the turf before scoring. The Ravens lost, 23-16.  (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun)

Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker caught a pass in the middle of the field Nov. 9 and was immediately driven to the turf by Terrence Brooks. The hit, which was deemed legal, forced Walker to drop the ball and left him with a concussion. It set the tone for the Ravens’ 21-7 victory.  (Rob Carr / Getty Images)

John Harbaugh’s juggling of the coaching staff stood out. Offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak was a significant upgrade and got the best out of Flacco and the run game. Harbaugh’s decision to stick with Juan Castillo also was rewarded as the offensive line became a strength.  (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

The Ravens’ missteps in handing the Rice situation were well-documented. On the field, the front office’s failure to adequately replace Corey Graham haunted the Ravens and doomed them in the playoffs. It was obvious the Ravens didn’t have enough effective CBs from the first day of camp.  (Lloyd Fox / Baltimore Sun)

“That film is a coaching session. I’m 35 years old and I ran around those boys like they were schoolyard kids,” Steve Smith said after catching seven passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers, the team he played with for 13 seasons before joining the Ravens.  (Rob Carr / Getty Images)