No break in expectation game for Bears defense and Mitch Trubisky

In a whirlwind offseason in which the Bears never stopped working from the start of coaching changes Jan. 1 to the blockbuster trade for Khalil Mack a week before kickoff weekend, it was defensive coordinator Vic Fangio who provided the sound bite that bridged one forgettable season and what the franchise hopes is the start of a bright new era.

Fangio, during a media session in mid-January after receiving a new contract, said, "We have to get our so-called good players playing even better."

Credit him for delivering real talk to those fixated on rankings - the Bears