Here are 10 other things I know.

1. I know Kyle Orton lost some supporters with an uneven 24 of 40 performance for 172 yards and two interceptions, and that reaction was expected and deserved for a quarterback who posted a passer rating of 49.2. But forming conclusions on a weekly basis about the level of commitment the Bears should make to Orton in the off-season serves little purpose other than to reveal the knee-jerk nature of fans and media. Long-term contract issues tend to be addressed during either off weeks or off-seasons, and the feeling here remains that the Bears will approach Orton with a modest but fair proposal to make him their quarterback of the future. As they should. His affordability will allow the Bears to devote salary-cap space for more pressing needs at wide receiver and the offensive line so they can surround a competent quarterback with playmakers.

2. I know after 206 pass attempts without a single interception over six games, Orton has thrown six in half as many pass attempts in the last three games. He appears to be struggling especially with passes over the middle where spying linebackers have taken advantage of his blind spot. Maybe moving the pocket more now that Orton has regained a measure of mobility would improve his field vision.

3. I know strong-side linebacker Nick Roach capped a second straight solid game with his biggest play of the season when he tackled Pierre Thomas for a 5-yard loss on a key fourth-and-1. Roach has put the Bears in an awkward position with displaced starter and popular veteran Hunter Hillenmeyer. While Roach hasn't played well enough for the Bears to ignore the position in next April's NFL draft, he has earned more trust than was placed in him a month ago.

4. I know right defensive end Alex Brown probably had a hard time sleeping Wednesday night knowing unproven Zach Strief was replacing injured veteran Jammal Brown at left tackle. Good players take advantage of such mismatches and Brown dominated, getting one sack and showing why he has become the Bears' most consistent defensive lineman.

5. I know tight end Greg Olsen (above) quietly caught a career-high eight passes, but none created a bigger stir than the one that nearly was his ninth. Cornerback Jason David mugged Olsen in the south end zone, but there was no pass-interference penalty called. Did the officials leave the flag in their pockets because there were only seven seconds left in the game? If the call on Olsen's play was one most officials would have made in the first quarter, they should have made it late in the fourth.

6. I know Devin Hester would have returned his last punt of the season Thursday night if I were coaching Bears special teams. At this point, he does the Bears more harm than good as a returner. He fumbled twice against the Jaguars, and against the Saints it looked like he was running laterally toward the space heater on the sideline more than he was vertically toward the end zone. Though averaging just 5.6 yards per punt return, Hester has emerged as the Bears' biggest threat in the passing game. So keep him healthy, fresh and active running routes. But dust off Rashied Davis' punt-return skills -- he is likely to hold on to punts better than he has passes.

7. I know if Davis isn't returning punts or playing a vital role on other special teams, he has not proven lately he deserves to keep the starting wide receiver job he has held for 12 of the Bears' 14 games. While the interception by Saints safety Josh Bullocks came on a throw a little behind Davis, it bounced off his hands and those are the types of passes NFL receivers need to catch.

8. I know offensive coordinator Ron Turner needs to take advantage of the 10 days between games to rebuild confidence and re-evaluate personnel and strategy for the final two games. The offense sputtered to just 226 total yards against the NFL's 21st-ranked defense, and it wasn't all because Matt Forte's limitations with an injured toe. The two touchdown drives were only 41 and 42 yards, and the best plays of the night were pass-interference penalties. The Bears can't rely on the pinata offense to carry them against a Green Bay team that will be motivated to ruin their playoff hopes and then a dangerously talented Texans defense.

9. I know Danieal Manning's chugging, somewhat unorthodox shot-out-a-cannon-upfield running style (above) reminds me of Jerry Azumah's. Azumah was the Bears' Pro Bowl return man before Hester, and Manning easily could be the next one if given an entire season returning kickoffs.

10. I know the Saints are a good Football team, despite their mediocre 7-7 record, and anybody who believes the Bears would be a mismatch against anybody short of the Giants in the playoffs -- if the Bears somehow make them -- wasn't watching Thursday night and hasn't been paying attention to a very even NFC season. There isn't a team in playoff contention that couldn't win at least one postseason game this year.

dhaugh@tribune.com