Bears dominate Cowboys 45-28 in frigid conditions

The Chicago Bears used the excellent play of veteran quarterback Josh McCown and the frigid conditions at Soldier Field to crush the Dallas Cowboys 4528 on “Monday Night Football.”

The 34yearold McCown, who was making his fourth start in place of the injured Jay Cutler, threw four touchdown passes and the Bears offense scored on its first eight possessions against a porous Cowboys defense.

“It’s just about being in the right situation now with these guys, with this offense and with these coaches, and allowing me to play within this system with the guys that are around me,” McCown said.

The Bears (76) ended a twogame losing streak and now share first place in the NFC North with the Detroit Lions.

“We moved the ball. He (McCown) completed passes. I thought there were a lot of exceptional catches in the game. Not every play works out like you draw it up. The guys ran around, Josh ran around and made some plays,” Bears head coach Marc Trestman said.

McCown completed 27 of 36 passes for 348 yards, with no picks, giving him a passer rating of 141.9 on a special night for the Bears, who retired the number of Mike “Iron Mike” Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end who played for Chicago from 1961 to 1966 and coached the team to a 4610 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX on Jan. 26, 1986.

McCown, who also rushed for a touchdown on a wild, spinning sevenyard scamper, was not the only star for the Bears on Monday night.

Chicago running back Matt Forte had 20 carries for 102 yards and caught seven passes for 73 yards, scoring one touchdown.

Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, tight end Martellus Bennett and running back Michael Bush all scored a touchdown for the Bears.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo completed 11 of 20 passes for 104 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 109.2.

The Cowboys (76) dropped to second place in the NFC East, with the Philadelphia Eagles (85) now in sole control of first place.