From an evaluation standpoint, the 2008 Chicago Bears have been an exercise in frustration. Who knows, right? They were supposed to be mediocre, and they have been, but on the way they've looked variously like world beaters and, one game later, just above the lower rung of the NFL. It's been incredibly confusing.

With sunday's win over the Jaguars, it remains so. Kyle Orton, once hampered by an injury, is suddenly looking confident and capable again. (The lack of a nagging knee issue might have something to do with that.) Devin Hester might actually be figuring things out. The defense was actually pretty stalwart. Greg Olsen caught a touchdown pass, and performed like the receiving tight end most had hoped he would be -- and unlike the one he's been for most of his young career. And it all came against a team the Bears expected to beat; that they did so is actually more surprising than if the opposite had happened. Like we said. Confusing.

So now, with Sunday behind us, what does it mean for the remaining three games? It means we have absolutely no idea what's going to happen, and we're not afraid to admit it. The Vikings could plausibly win out, or they could lose the rest of their games and allow the Bears back into the picture. The Bears could break down totally, or they could rally behind their latest win and cruise through to the end of the season. Or they could win a couple and lose one, or vice versa; the Vikings could do the same. We have absolutely no idea what's going on.

In a way, we like it. This is the NFL, after all. Anything can happen. Everything goes down to the wire. All that. On the other hand, it'd be nice if we could figure this team out. We've had plenty of time. They sure don't make it easy, do they?