Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay, left, and free safety Mike Mitchell, right, during the second half Thursday in Baltimore. The Steelers lost 26-6.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin believes his team’s biggest problems are “self-inflicted.”

Too many penalties. Too many turnovers. Not enough explosive plays.

Good thing the Steelers will have some extra time to work on their issues, perhaps the lone benefit from Thursday night’s sloppy 26-6 loss to Baltimore, a game in which the emotionally charged Ravens handled Pittsburgh for the better part of 60 minutes.

Suddenly, all the optimism that blossomed during the first half of a season-opening win against Cleveland seems like a distant memory.

“We got a good ole fashioned (butt) whooping,” cornerback Ike Taylor said. “We beat ourselves, and they capitalized. That’s how it is in the NFL. It’s already hard enough, and when you beat yourself, and they capitalize, it doesn’t make anything better.”

Pittsburgh’s defense failed to record a takeaway for the second straight week and rarely put any pressure on Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco. Even worse, a handful of flags allowed the Ravens to extend drives they turned into touchdowns.

And while the Steelers expected some growing pains while mixing in new players, some of the miscues were from established veterans. Cornerback Cortez Allen drew two penalties, including a pass interference penalty that set up the Ravens’ first score.

Safety Troy Polamalu was called for unnecessary roughness for hitting Baltimore tight end Owen Daniels high and Mike Mitchell earned one of his own for targeting Baltimore’s Steve Smith during an incompletion in the end zone.

The result was a rare blowout in a series built on tight finishes. The last time the Steelers lost to the Ravens by more than three points came in the 2011 opener, when they were crushed 35-7. Pittsburgh recovered to go 12-4 and make the playoffs.

Considering the regular season is barely a week old, it’s hardly time to panic.

Yet the fast start during a dizzying two quarters against Cleveland — when Pittsburgh raced to a 27-3 lead — has sputtered out quickly.

“We have to play cleaner,” Tomlin said. “We have to play better, technically, and cleaner.”