The Bears Den: December 10, 2013 - Week 14 Bears-Cowboys game reports and news

McCown accounts for five TDs in win over Dallas - Larry Mayer: Josh McCown has excelled consistently this season, but he delivered his most impressive performance to date in Monday night's win over the Cowboys.

Bears offense dominant - Larry Mayer: The Bears scored on all eight of their possessions before taking a knee on the final play of a 45-28 win over the Cowboys on a frigid Monday night at Soldier Field.

The new Papa Bear - Dan Pompei: At 74, Mike Ditka is still regarded as a Chicago deity.

Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). Chicken dinner. Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and t-shirts. Den pic in hi-res.

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Chicago Bears 45, Dallas Cowboys 28

Bears beat up on Cowboys, grab first-place tie in NFC North - Game report and [Video] highlights from NFL.com. Box scores.

Game review - The Tribune's drive charts, three performances of note, and more game stats.

McCown’s 5 TDs lead Bears over Cowboys - Patrick Finley: On their most dramatic night of the season — when the team retired Mike Ditka’s No. 89 at halftime — the Bears had a game without any.

Bears rout Cowboys 45-28 - Rich Campbell: Mike Ditka didn't bring the 1985 Bears defense with him down the red carpet to midfield at halftime Monday night. Because of the 2013 offense, he didn't have to.

McCown, Jeffery lead Bears back into playoff hunt - David Haugh: The weather and shadow of Ditka provided all the elements for a throwback game. The Bears threw the ball around like a modern NFL offense anyway.

Jason Hatcher: 'We got our butts beat' - Kevin Patra: What else we learned from Monday night's game.

Rapid Reaction - Michael C. Wright with a few quick thoughts on the Bears' 45-28 victory over the Cowboys on Monday night at Soldier Field. What it means: Game on.

Game review - Michael C. Wright's review of four hot issues from the Bears' win. Jeff Dickerson: Five things we learned.

Rapid Reaction - Dan Durkin: The temperature was frigid, but the Bears offense was anything but in a 45-28 rout of the Cowboys on Monday Night football.

[Video] ESPN - Jon Gruden and Mike Tirico break down the Bears' win over the Cowboys on MNF.

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More from the game

Four Downs - Rich Campbell's thoughts from the game: the Bears reignited their playoff hopes.

Game notes - Larry Mayer: Jeffery shines again in rout over Cowboys; fourth coldest Bears game since at least 1963; Marshall and Forte hit season 1,000-yard milestones; no punts or turnovers by Bears' offense.

Game notes - Seth Gruen: Long, Mills respond to coaches’ challenge; Gould shares milestone with FG unit; first start for Ratliff.

Game notes - Bob LeGere: Wind chill a hot topic for Bears game; Kromer on Marshall's blocking; McCown's plan for the cold; stats from the game.

Game notes - Dan Wiederer: Bears continue to pile up impressive numbers on offense; McCown again impressive; Trestman's praise for Da Coach; more notes.

Game notes - Adam Hoge: The Bears did not punt and did not commit a turnover for the first time in franchise history; McCown elected to go gloveless; defense far from perfect but managed three straight stops; more notes.

Stats & Info - ESPN Stats & Information with the three biggest keys for Chicago’s victory.

Bears players react on Twitter - Bears players took to social media following Monday night's win.

Photos from ChicagoBears.com ... NFL.com ... Sun-Times ... Daily Herald ... Tribune.

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Does Josh McCown make Jay Cutler expendable?

Josh mighty good again for Bears - Bob LeGere: The 45 points and 490 yards were both season highs for the Bears and came on the heels of maybe the most disappointing loss of the year, the overtime debacle in Minnesota.

McCown has been more than a backup - Adam L. Jahns: The Bears will do their best to squash any debate or perception of a QB controversy, especially while they’re still in the playoff race. But the debate exists only because McCown has played so well.

McCown continues to play like a No. 1 QB - Brad Biggs: Sure, the Bears had to wait until Week 14 to find such a hideous defense, but the offense was nothing short of brilliant, scoring on the first eight possessions.

On Ditka Day, Trestman proves a point - Barry Rozner: While Trestman has made great progress turning Cutler into a consistent NFL QB, the more amazing feat is what he's done with McCown, a career backup who was coaching high school two years ago.

Josh McCown has Bears in QB quandary - Chris Wesseling: If Jay Cutler is healthy, will Trestman turn back to him in Week 15?

[Video] NFL Total Access - With such tremendous performances by McCown, should the Bears question Cutler's future as the team's main signal-caller?

So is Cutler still the Bears' starting QB? - Mike Imrem: Maybe it's a good problem to have: Two QBs to pick from instead of the Bears' customary zero.

McCown gets Bears deeper into a nice problem to have - Moon Mullin: McCown might be playing his way to a level at which the Bears can’t afford to keep both in addition to drafting a young QB for the developmental pipeline.

Trestman maintains Cutler will remain starting QB - Jeff Dickerson: "There's no change in the plan," Trestman said. "We'll see where Jay is this week. He'll have to be released by the doctors. When Jay is ready to play, he'll be playing."

No controversy — Cutler still the starter - Adam Hoge: McCown is a better QB than Cutler. Let Jay go. Sign McCown cheaper. Draft a QB to develop behind him. That’s right, everyone must have been wrong about McCown the last 12 years.

Pump the brakes on giving Cutler's job to McCown - Steve Rosenbloom: Not to diminish Josh McCown's terrific game Monday night, but the Cowboys came in with the worst defense in the NFL and then showed why it's a well-earned distinction.

3 reasons why Cutler is better than McCown - Mark Potash: Forget productivity up to now, the point is: which QB would be more productive in the final three games of the season? For Phil Emery’s sake, it better be Cutler. [N.B. Written before last night's game but the points stand - Den]

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Jeffery, Marshall the best WR duo in the NFL?

Jeffery drops jaws again with stunning TD catch - Mark Potash: After years of neglect, the Bears suddenly have an embarrassment of riches at WR.

Jeffery making his name - Dan Berstein: Second-year wideout is perhaps the most exciting receiving prospect drafted by the Bears in my lifetime.

Marshall, Jeffery each reach 1,000 yards - Michael C. Wright: Duo combined for 11 catches for 184 yards and a TD, playing a major role in the team converting 73 percent of its third-down attempts.

WR duo dynamic once again - Dan Wiederer: Jeffery's acrobatic TD catch, Marshall's 100-yard game latest evidence they might be NFL's best tandem.

Bears' trio reaches rare milestone in victory over Cowboys - Scott Krinch: The Bears offense has developed a swagger unlike most Chicago sports fans have ever seen from an offense — minus the Blackhawks. They’re starting to believe in themselves and are doing it on a consistent basis.

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Game grades

Stock Watch - What's up and what's down, from the Sun-Times.

Game grades - Mark Potash hands out his grades in a delightful little slideshow.

Game grades - Jeff Dickerson's report card.

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Bearsss

Under plenty of heat, Bears keeping their cool - Rick Morrissey: I know they’re not that good, you know they’re not that good and I suspect some of their family members know they’re not that good. But they know how to keep their head above water, even as the water turns to ice.

Bears need to keep riding this offense - Michael Wilbon: The Bears need to fully embrace their new identity as offensive juggernaut if they want to make the playoffs.

Bears move from the brink of extinct to a step from the top - Moon Mullin: Team with a realistic chance to regain the division lead that they lost with their first loss to the Lions back in Week 4.

No turnovers = Red Robin offer not valid today, sorry!

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Ditka

Bears retire Ditka's No. 89 during halftime - Larry Mayer: During a ceremony at halftime of Monday night's game against the Cowboys, legendary Hall of Famer Mike Ditka became the 14th individual to have his number retired by the Bears.

Bears retire Mike Ditka's No. 89 jersey - Jon Greenberg: There will never be another Mike Ditka, a football coach who became a cultural force of nature, and now there will never be another No. 89 for the Chicago Bears.

Ditka revels in much-overdue ceremony at Soldier Field - Rick Telander: Appropriately, it was 8 degrees at kickoff with a minus-9 wind chill. His ’stache might be gray and his V a little less lush, but the man is the man.

Mike Ditka: 'Thank you, thank you, thank you and go Bears!' - Scott Krinch: There might never be a more iconic figure in Bears history than Mike Ditka, and on a blistery December evening, the McCaskey family made sure there will never be another No. 89 to don the blue and orange.

Ditka ceremony warms up the night - Joe Aguilar: Mike Ditka may have had his jersey retired Monday night, but Da Coach continues to prove that he's far from the retiring type.

[Video] Ditka - Mike Ditka discusses his career and having his number retired by the Bears. [Video] Halftime ceremony.

Bears retire Mike Ditka's No. 89 - Fred Mitchell: Da Coach says feud with team 'blown out of proportion' and has now been "swept under the carpet". Goodell: Ditka represents 'the great things about football'.

Like him or not, Ditka synonymous with Bears - Mike Imrem: Love Mike Ditka or hate him, it's difficult not to miss him and the entertaining rock 'em-sock 'em attitude he brought to the Bears as both a TE and a head coach.

Ditka - Mike Spellman: A special Bears Bites edition with Da Coach.

Photos - Da Coach's career, from the Sun-Times [Bonus: no sign of Da Coach in a wedding dress] ... the retirement ceremony, from the Daily Herald & Tribune.

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Polish sausage

Back on the menu tomorrow.

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When Ditka sings, the music calibrates itself to his pitch and tempo.