Ben Roethlisberger says Steelers are the NFL’s worst team. Are they?

Ben Roethlisberger could have been speaking out of frustration.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ rally from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings had fallen just short, leaving the quarterback’s team at 0-4 for the first time since 1968.

After the game and before leaving Wembley Stadium in London, Roethlisberger told reporters: “Right now, you could say we’re the worst team in the league.”

Less than three years since their last Super Bowl appearance, the Steelers have been gutted by salary cap decisions, free agency and injuries. They can’t run the ball or protect Roethlisberger on offense and the defense has yet to create a turnover.

Things are looking bad in the Steel City -- but the worst? Let’s take a look.

The Steelers are one of four winless teams left in the NFL this season. They have lost to the Titans (3-1), Cincinnati Bengals (2-2), Chicago Bears (3-1) and Vikings (1-3) by a combined score of 110-69.

The New York Giants -- who won the Super Bowl at the end of the 2011 season -- have lost to the Dallas Cowboys (2-2), Denver Broncos (4-0), Carolina Panthers (1-2) and Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) by a combined score of 146-61. Tougher schedule than the Steelers, but interestingly enough, the Giants’ worst loss was 38-0 to the Panthers.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost to the New York Jets (2-2), New Orleans Saints (3-0), New England Patriots (4-0) and Arizona Cardinals (2-2) by a combined score of 70-44. But only one of those losses was a blowout -- 23-3 to the Patriots. The others were decided by three points or less.

And then there are the Jacksonville Jaguars, with losses to the undefeated Chiefs, Oakland Raiders (1-3), Seattle Seahawks (4-0) and Indianapolis Colts (3-1) by a combined score of 129-31. With the exception of the Raiders, it’s another tough schedule -- but the Jags could muster double-digit points in just one of those games (oddly enough, it was against the Seahawks).

So there you have it. I’d say out of this bunch, Tampa Bay is looking pretty good and Jacksonville not so much. But, then again, so much more is expected of the Steelers and Giants.

What do you think? Is Roethlisberger right? Vote in the poll and let us know.

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