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Gould doesn’t get cold feet

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Robbie Gould kicked a 38-yard field goal with 11 minutes 28 seconds left in overtime and the Chicago Bears overcame frigid conditions and the Green Bay Packers for a 20-17 victory Monday night to stay in the running for the playoffs.

Chicago’s Alex Brown blocked Mason Crosby’s 38-yard field-goal attempt with 18 seconds left in regulation to preserve a 17-17 tie and send the game into overtime.

The temperature at Soldier Field was announced at 2 degrees, making it the coldest home game in Bears history since records started being kept in 1963. The windchill was 13 below, the second-lowest in recorded team annals, so the longtime rivals known for their ability to play in cold weather were tested by the elements.

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Kyle Orton connected on a 17-yard pass to Greg Olsen and a 15-yard penalty on Green Bay’s Aaron Rouse for a horse-collar tackle gave the Bears the ball at the Green Bay 35 in overtime. A third-down pass of 14 yards to Matt Forte got it to the Green Bay 20 to set up the winning kick -- Gould’s second consecutive game winner in overtime.

The Bears (9-6), who stayed in contention for the NFC North over the weekend when Atlanta beat Minnesota, won their third game in a row and rallied from a 14-3 halftime deficit to do it. Green Bay (5-10) lost its fifth consecutive game.

If the Bears win at Houston on Sunday and Minnesota loses at home to the New York Giants, Chicago wins the NFC North title.

Minnesota holds the tiebreaker over the Bears, so if both teams win Sunday, the Vikings win the division title.

Burress is sued

Suspended Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was sued last week in Florida’s Broward County Circuit Court, accused of rear-ending a woman in his nearly $140,000 Mercedes-Benz in May.

Complicating the Super Bowl star’s defense, according to a document provided by the woman’s attorney, is the fact his car insurance lapsed three days before the crash. A letter from Allstate says Burress neglected to pay his premiums.

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Burress’ attorney, Adam Swickle, declined to comment.

Burress is still serving a team suspension for shooting himself in a nightclub with an illegally carried handgun on Nov. 29.

Etc.

As he began what could be his final week with the Cleveland Browns, Coach Romeo Crennel had to address a physical altercation that took place last week between quarterback Brady Quinn and defensive end Shaun Smith. According to WKYC-TV’s Jim Donovan, who is also the team’s play-by-play radio announcer, Smith punched Quinn in the face after a heated exchange in the team’s weight room. Tight end Darnell Dinkins confirmed the fight during a radio interview on WQAL, saying Quinn’s face was marked. . . . Jay Zygmunt, the St. Louis Rams’ president of football operations, resigned in the fallout from another terrible season. . . . A spectator pleaded not guilty to charges of trespassing and assault and battery for tackling New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau on the sidelines during the team’s 47-7 win over Arizona on Sunday. Todd Kobus, of Attleboro, Mass., appeared in Wrentham District Court, where a pretrial hearing was set for Feb. 17. “I’m just a big fan of Junior Seau,” the 31-year-old Kobus said in court. “I meant to give him a big hug. I absolutely did not mean to tackle him or anything along those lines. It was a stupid lapse in judgment.”

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