The Bears Den: December 11, 2013 - Week 15 Bears news & notes

Larry Mayer's Chalk Talk - Larry discusses the Bears' QB situation, the last time the Bears didn't punt in a game, and if Matt Forte has a chance to break Walter Payton's team rushing record.

Brad Biggs' 10 thoughts - Ten 2d4+12 thoughts after the Bears demolished the Cowboys 45-28 Monday night at Soldier Field to improve to 7-6 and remain in thick of NFC North race.

Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). Poop! 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

Larry Mayer's Game Blog - LM: McCown draws another 15-yard penalty on DE George Selvie. Selvie has been penalized for hitting McCown too low and too high. On average, he's fine.

Stats & Info - ChicagoBears.com takes a look at some stats and facts from Monday night’s win over the Cowboys in Chicago.

Game review - Dan Wiederer: The Bears delivered a season-best offensive explosion in a 45-28 romp over the Cowboys and didn't turn the ball over, but the rushing defense is still full of holes, allowing 198 rushing yards on 28 carries.

Maybe it's best not to mess with McCown - Bob LeGere: A critical stop by the defense and a score by Jeffery, all in the span of 90 seconds, turned the game's early ebb-and-flow into a tidal wave in favor of the 7-6 Bears.

Marshall: Cowboys done before game - Michael C. Wright: Brandon Marshall thinks the chilly conditions affected the visiting team's psyche.

[Video] Jeff Dickerson & Michael C. Wright - MCW and JD break down the Bears' 45-28 win over the Cowboys and Chicago's QB controversy with Josh McCown playing so well.

[Video] PostGame Live - Moon Mullin and Jen Lada break down Bears win.

Game notes - Larry Mayer: McCown adds to aerial attack by flying into end zone; Dallas defense acknowledge they were outplayed; Bears-Eagles flexed to primetime; Gould reaches career 1,000 point landmark.

Game notes - Adam L. Jahns: Ratliff pleased with second outing; Marshall on weather, block on Sean Lee; more from the game.

Game notes - Bob LeGere: Trestman impressed by players' giving spirit, character; improved 3rd down conversion rate on offense; defense gave up third-fewest yards of season; more notes.

Team notes - Rich Campbell: Marshall says Dallas players psyched out by the cold weather; Bears-Eagles flexed; forgotten man Earl Bennett got back in the end zone Monday.

[Video] PostGame Live - The PGL crew discuss: Cutler or McCown?  Plus, thoughts on Bears-Cowboys and a preview of the Browns.

Stock Watch - Jeff Dickerson: The Jeffery show continues.

Game grades - Brad Biggs: Aside from the D-line and LBs [and safeties... - Den], Bears grade out well after blowing out the Cowboys.

Moon Mullin's game grades for coaching and by position group: QB - RB - WR/TE - OL - DL - LB - DB - STs.

[Video] PostGame Live - Who are the PGL panel's Monsters of the Midway?

Game grades - PFF's three performances of note. Brandon Marshall gets the game ball.

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Offense, Jay Cutler, Josh McCown

McCown says Cutler will start when healthy - Josh McCown joined Carmen & Jurko to douse any spark of a QB controversy with the Bears.

[Video] ESPN - The NFL Live crew debates whether a healthy Cutler or McCown should be the starting QB for the Bears.

Bears should ride the hot hand - Jon Greenberg: The Bears are almost out of time in their quest for the playoffs, and he's not the future, but they need to ride the hot hand -- Josh McCown -- at QB.

QB controversy? Forget about it - David Haugh: Maybe give Cutler another week to heal, but when he's ready he should get the nod over security-blanket backup McCown.

[Video] ESPN - Ed Werder discusses Marc Trestman's statement that Cutler will return to the lineup when he receives medical clearance, and Cutler's future with Chicago.

Eight possessions, eight scores: offense reaches new level - Dan Wiederer: To get lost in the hullabaloo of the Bears’ QB debate [Wiederer spends two-thirds of this article stirring it up... - Den] is to miss the boat on just how potent the offense was Monday night in taking apart a hapless Cowboys defense.

Hey, Bears fans, hold the irrational exuberance - Mike Mulligan: The Bears are the second team not to need to punt against the Cowboys this season. What their defense has allowed this season (490-plus yards in five games) is more extraordinary than what the Bears offense managed in one game.

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Defense

Lance Briggs waits for medical OK - Patrick Finley: Lance Briggs’ fractured left shoulder was evaluated by team doctors Tuesday, but he wasn’t cleared to play.

Jennings has earned a new contract - Adam L. Jahns: With the salary cap and so many impending free agents, re-establishing a viable defense won’t come easy. But Tim Jennings is proving he’s worth keeping around.

Martellus Bennett has ideas for defense - Fred Mitchell: Martellus Bennett is trying to get his brother, DE Michael Bennett of the Seahawks, to join him with the Bears.

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Bearsss

Lunch with Larry - Bears Senior Writer Larry Mayer's weekly live Q&A for people who really need to read WCG.

ESPN Chatwrap - Jeff Dickerson's weekly Bears Q&A session.

Know thy enemy - Brad Biggs with an early look at the Bears' next opponents, the Cleveland Browns.

Know thy enemy - Steve Silverman takes a look at how the Bears match up with the Browns.

NFCN Blog - Michael Rothstein takes a look at the NFC playoff picture: The Lions are still in the driving seat, but have lost three of four games and still have three games left this season.

History shows Forte playing on borrowed time - Scott Lindholm: Running back is one of the positions with the shortest careers and, if trends are to be believed, the Bears may be in the market for a new one sooner rather than later.

Check WCGer Sackman's selection of Bears-themed tops here, or some t-shirt designs here.

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Polish sausage

Coaches need quality QBs more than experience - Jarrett Bell: Texans team owner Bob McNair is looking for experience, but quarterbacking will determine the success of the next coach, whether he comes with experience or not.

X&Os - Greg A. Bedard's decisive plays of week 14 include the game-winning one for the Ravens over the Vikings, and the Eagles' 38-yard TD run by Chris Polk against the Lions.

Know thy enemy: Packers - Rob Demovsky's Rapid Reaction to Packers 22, Falcons 21 ... Upon further review ... PFF's three performances of note.

Know thy enemy: Packers - Rob Demovsky: Jarrett Bush, Packers' defense come up big ... Somehow, Packers still in the division race ... Rodgers sounds less certain about return.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling's Rapid Reaction to Vikings 29, Ravens 26 ... Upon further review ... PFF's three performances of note.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Ben Goessling: Vikings try to process another wild finish ... Will Vikings shut down AP for rest of season?

Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein's Rapid Reaction to Lions 20, Eagles 34 ... Upon further review ... PFF's three performances of note.

Know thy enemy: Lions - Michael Rothstein: The Lions collapsed in the fourth quarter for the third time in four games for their third loss in four games, this time a 34-20 loss to Philadelphia in which the defense disappeared in the final 15 minutes.

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Jo'anna, as in Johannesberg.