There wasn’t a single standout from Mike Tomlin’s team in Week 6. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense looked flat and lifeless. And that’s exactly what caught the attention of ex-NFL QB Dan Orlovsky. He is not happy the way the Steelers gave up a comfortable lead.

“You know, they gave up 30 points. So defensively still not doing great as a unit.” Still, he added a bit of hope to the mix. “It keeps them alive for another week.” A 4-2 record buys some time. Before the season kicked off, Pittsburgh’s defense was supposed to be elite. Top-five material. Through six games, though, they’ve looked nothing like it.

And that’s why Orlovsky didn’t hesitate to push Tomlin. “I just think that Pittsburgh has got to take a step back and really try to take the picture of how to improve defensively to be more consistent,” Orlovsky said on Up & Adams Show.

The rough part? The Bengals aren’t exactly an offensive powerhouse.

They came in struggling, especially on the ground. Before Thursday, Cincinnati had just 340 rushing yards through six games, a dreadful 56.6 yards per game. Yet somehow, the Steelers made them look unstoppable.

By the end, the scoreboard told an ugly story. Pittsburgh gave up 470 total yards. Joe Flacco alone threw for 328 of them. And the Bengals’ rushing attack? Their best of the season with 142 yards total.

However, host Kay Adams broke down how bad it got for Pittsburgh. Against Mike Tomlin’s crew, Joe Flacco faced his lowest pressure rate this season, barely around 25% as per Adams. So she went straight to the point and asked if the Minkah Fitzpatrick–Jalen Ramsey trade was a mistake. Orlovsky feels Tomlin didn’t get that wrong.

Mike Tomlin’s got work to do.

Addressing Minkah Fitzpatrick’s trade, Orlovsky said, “I don’t think it’s, it was, it was a mistake.” That confidence caught some by surprise, especially after what Steelers Nation witnessed on Thursday. But Orlovsky explained why he feels that way.

He believes Jalen Ramsey fits better closer to the line these days. In his words, Ramsey isn’t a pure man-to-man lockdown guy anymore. Instead, he’s more effective around the football, reading plays, blitzing, and being active near the ball. According to him, that’s how Tomlin should use him if he wants consistent production.

Back in June, Pittsburgh landed Jalen Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick from Miami in exchange for Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth.

However, since then, Fitzpatrick has stacked solid numbers: 27 solo tackles, 11 assists, a fumble recovery, and an interception in just six games. And Ramsey has had 15 solo tackles, 11 assists, 2.0 sacks and 1 interception in 6 games this season. So in tackles Fitzpatrick is ahead, and that’s what was needed last week.

But even with Tomlin avoiding direct blame, frustration around the Steel City is rising fast.