What we learned from the Chicago Bears loss to the Minnesota Vikings

Other noteworthy tidbits

Center Cody Whitehair made the All-Rookie team last season, and he has the potential to become a Pro Bowl player. However, he needs to wake up.

I have been willing to make excuses for him earlier this season because he was playing three different positions along the offensive line due to injuries. However, this was the third straight week where the true starting offensive line played, so he needs to step up.

He must have had three high shotgun snaps that threw off the rhythm of Trubisky. This is not the first week he has done this, either. Whitehair has been doing this for weeks. He needs to get it together. He also had a holding penalty called on him on the first drive of the game that made it a 3rd-and-20.

Charles Leno, also, needs to start to earn that big contract he just got. He had his weekly false start penalty at the 13:20 mark in the second quarter. You can blame Trubisky for fumbling on this all you want, but it is on Leno.

Leno hardly even touches Griffen. I timed it: he got to Trubisky in 2.4 seconds. So, both Leno and Whitehair need to pick up their play.

On defense, I wanted to highlight Leonard Floyd and Akiem Hicks. Both players played great, in the loss to the Vikings.

Floyd had two sacks and, as I mentioned earlier, sacked Bradford in the end zone for a safety.

This was just a great job by Floyd for not giving up on the play. Bradford held the ball too long, and Floyd made him pay.

In September, Hicks signed a 4-year, $48 million extension, and he has been worth every penny. Hicks is a defensive captain and a true warrior.

That was nice penetration by Hicks to tackle McKinnon in the backfield for a four-yard loss. On top of that, he had two sacks.

Next: Trubisky flashes, crashes in Monday Night loss to Vikings

This defense is in good hands, with Floyd and Hicks. Now Pace just needs to give weapons to Trubisky, who will continue to grow as the season moves forward.