LONDON — With the Pittsburgh Steelers off to their worst start in 45 years, Ben Roethlisberger isn’t mincing words about where the team stacks up against the rest of the NFL.

“Right now, you could say we’re the worst team in the league,” the Steelers quarterback said after Pittsburgh fell 34-27 to the Minnesota Vikings at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. “That hurts.”

With Roethlisberger sacked five times and harassed all day by Jared Allen and the Vikings, the Steelers dropped to 0-4 — their worst start since 1968 when they lost their first six games en route to a 2-11-1 record.

Roethlisberger, who has won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh, acknowledged this is the lowest point of his career.

“We are in uncharted territory and the water is dangerous right now,” he said. “It stings. I have to hope and believe we can turn it around.”

With a bye week before facing the New York Jets, and mainly pride left to play to play for, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin put players on notice that jobs could be at stake.

“I have great patience,” he said. “The team will work to get better. As long as I see belief and effort and we continue to improve, that’s what’s going to change the outcome of these games. If I don’t, (they) ain’t going to be a part of it, whoever it may be. It’s that simple.”