McCown steps in and throws career-high four touchdowns.
The Chicago Bears secured a 45-28 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night to jump right back into the playoff race having moved level with the Detroit Lions at the top of the NFC North.
Quarterback Josh McCown threw for a career-high four touchdowns while also rushing for his own, as the Bears scored on their first eight possessions to put pressure on the Lions with both teams at 7-6 for the season.
However, the Lions have the head-to-head advantage having defeated their rivals twice already this season.
Nevertheless, coach Marc Trestman was delighted with his team’s effort in freezing conditions, as McCown made his fourth straight start with Jay Cutler sidelined with a high left ankle sprain.
The stand-in quarterback ended the game completing 27 of 36 passes, while Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 100 yards and Alshon Jeffery added 84 yards receiving.
Matt Forte played an integral part in the win as is usually the case for the Bears, while Robbie Gould’s kicking helped make the result more comfortable.
However, despite all the talking points from the game, the one question that Trestman was faced with after the game was whether or not Cutler remained the starting quarterback.
“There’s no change in the plan,” Trestman said, according to ESPN. “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.”
Cutler has missed the last four games with his ankle injury, and while he practiced this week he has yet to receive medical clearance to make his comeback.
The 30-year-old is in the final year of his contract, but has received a vote of confidence from his coach although his team-mates were all highly complimentary of McCown after his latest impressive performance.
The veteran is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, but given his form this year it is unclear as to whether or not he will be handed an extension.
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