Now Bears just need to close the deal
Feel free to measure the fullness of your own glass.
Either the Bears opened the season with two tough road games and returned home with a notable 1-1 record.
Or the Bears' suspected weaknesses were exposed Sunday during the second half of Carolina's 20-17 victory.
What suspected weaknesses? How about the ones discussed during an uninspiring preseason?
Kyle Orton: The new starting quarterback wasn't ready yet to make the big play down the stretch.
Offensive line: The Bears' final chance at a rally was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 run right up the middle, though maybe because the play was called for Jason McKie instead of Matt Forte.
Defense: The Bears built a 17-3 lead and couldn't make a required stop during the final 20 minutes.
Devin Hester: Moonlighting as a wide receiver as well as a kick returner left his durability in doubt, and he left in the third quarter with aching ribs.
Carolina did what had to be done - what the Bears didn't do - with the game in the balance.
"We had a chance to make some plays in the second half and just didn't do it," said Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Meanwhile, the Panthers' defense forced a Greg Olsen fumble, leading to the touchdown that boosted them back into contention.
Quarterback Jake Delhomme, a Super Bowl veteran, completed 3 of 3 passes during what became the winning touchdown drive.
Overall the Panthers had closers that the Bears didn't, made that yard or yards when necessary, and were just good enough in a game in which every play mattered.
Most Bears games this season are going to look like this one because their style of play will muck them up.
The score will be low, the hitting will be bruising, the video will be ugly, mistakes will be critical, coaching decisions will be magnified, and the final quarter will be decisive.
The Bears are going to be in position to win - just as they were against the Panthers and were last week against the Colts.
But these games can't be won if the defense doesn't make those stops, the offensive line doesn't gain those 3 feet, and Orton doesn't take what the defense gives him.
Carolina gave the Bears' quarterback the long ball to Marty Booker in the fourth quarter for what likely would have been the score that buried the Panthers.
Orton overthrew his receiver by a couple of yards. Add that to the yard the Bears didn't gain on fourth down and you're talking a mere 36 inches of futility.
The Bears' hope is that Orton just wasn't ready to make that play, the offensive line is still trying to become cohesive, and the defense is better than it was on Carolina's winning drive.
In other words, the Bears hope that what you see now isn't what you'll see later, in December or November or perhaps even next week.
Tampa Bay and Philadelphia - two more tough opponents - come to Soldier Field and maybe the venue is all the Bears need to begin growing into what they want to become.
This team is in good position now, just as it will be in most games, and all it has to do is learn how to fill their cup until it runneth over.