CHICAGO _ A steady roar from Vikings fans rumbled around U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. Drumbeats led the "Skol" chant. Fans raised their hands over their heads in a rhythmic clap. The eerie Gjallarhorn sounded.
When Bears center Cody Whitehair and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel think about quarterback Mitch Trubisky's developing composure, both point to this particular afternoon.
Gabriel, who has played in five career playoff games, said it was one of the top five environments he has experienced.
Amid that raucous atmosphere, Trubisky helped the Bears eliminate their division rival from playoff contention. Playing without his top three receivers for much of the game, he led three touchdown drives, including a 16-play, 75-yard march that ate up more than nine minutes in the third and fourth quarters.
"The way he carried himself on the field speaks volumes about how he's grown throughout the year and how he's going to carry it into the playoffs," Whitehair said.
The biggest test of poise in Trubisky's two-year career will come Sunday, when the Bears host the Eagles in a first-round playoff game at Soldier Field. In front of a Chicago audience that has waited eight years for such a game, Trubisky won't avoid the scrutiny the postseason brings.
He has made undeniable strides this season under coach Matt Nagy. But what will be fresh in everyone's minds for the next six months is how he performs from here on out, whether it be one more game or four.
More seasoned and decorated players have wilted under such circumstances. Others achieved NFL immortality.
"Just go through the list of quarterbacks that win in the playoffs and win in Super Bowls," Nagy said. "And that's how people remember you."
Nagy was talking about the legacy of guys like Tom Brady and Troy Aikman, but Trubisky soon will be introduced to the weight that January and February performances carry in ultimate judgment.
