Postgame Recap: Bears 45, Cowboys 28

Dec 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Josh McCown (12) celebrates with teammates after rushing for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys did what they normally do in December: lose, and lose big they did 45-28.

On a night that Chicago honored Mike Ditka, their Hall of Fame tight end and Super Bowl-winning coach, at halftime, the Bears gained nearly 500 yards of offense. Backup quarterback Josh McCown went 27/36 for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also scrambled for a touchdown. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo barely went over 100 yards going 11/20 for 104 yards and 3 touchdowns. Like last year’s Monday night against the Bears, Romo was benched for Orton.. Bears receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey had 5 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown  and 6 catches for 100 yards each.

Remember ex-Cowboy defensive lineman Jay — pardon — “Jeremiah” Ratliff? He combined for a half sack on Tony Romo as the Dallas Cowboys defensive line got zero pressure on Josh McCown.

At least DeMarco Murray helped people’s fantasy teams. He had 18 carries for 146 yards. Now, the Dallas Cowboys are 5-1 when Murray has 100 or more yards and also 11-1 when he has 18 or more carries.

Dallas got off to a good start when Romo hit Dez Bryant on a 2-yard jump ball in the end zone to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

Chicago responded immediately, driving down the field to tie it up with a 3-yard pass from Josh McCown to Earl Bennett on 3rd and goal.

One wouldn’t know it at the time, but the game turned for the Cowboys when on 3rd and 7, the first play of the second quarter, Tony Romo took a sack to effectively end the drive and punt it back to Chicago. The Bears drove down the field and scored a touchdown on a 3rd and goal scramble by Josh McCown at the Dallas 7 yard line.

Down 14-7, Dallas drove down the field and Jason Witten scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game up at 14.

Bears kicker Robbie Gould nailed a 27-yard field goal to make it 17-14 after the two-minute warning. Dallas gave the Bears the ball back at the Chicago 40 yard line for Alshon Jeffrey to eventually catch a 25-yard touchdown and stretch it to 24-14.

Chicago took the opening second half possession down for another Robbie Gould field goal, a 34-yarder, to make it 27-14 Bears.

After going three and out, the Bears received the ball again with Matt Forte taking a 4-yard check down for a touchdown to extend Chicago’s lead to 35-14 after a two-point conversion pass to Brandon Marshall.

The Bears scored again after the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs. Chicago runningback Michael Bush scoring a touchdown on a 17-yard catch. With a 42-14 lead, the game was effectively over.

Cole Beasley scored a 9-yard touchdown too little too late to make it 42-21. Gould scored a 23-yard field goal, and backup Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton scored on a 1-yard touchdown sneak to present the game’s 42-28 final score.

Dallas falls to 7-6. With the Eagles winning 34-20, they now take command of the NFC East at 8-5. Still, the Cowboys are in control of their own destiny. If they win all of their final three games, the Cowboys would take the division.

The order is tall with their upcoming opponent, the Packers, winning last week and the Lions losing. The NFC North is a toss up, and Green Bay is in the thick of things. Dallas could face Aaron Rodgers next week. And if Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Josh McCown could carve up Monte Kiffin’s defense, just wait to see what he might do.