CHICAGO -- Neither the brutal cold nor the leagues worst defence could stop Josh McCown and the Bears. PJ Tucker Rockets Jersey . Instead, Chicago jumped right back into the playoff race. McCown threw for a career-high four touchdowns, and the Bears scored on their first eight possessions to grab a share of the NFC North lead with a 45-28 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on a frigid Monday night. The Bears (7-6) retired Hall of Famer Mike Ditkas number at halftime and pulled even with Detroit in the division race on a night when the game-time temperature was in single digits and the wind chill factor was below zero. The loss left Dallas (7-6) a game behind Philadelphia in the NFC East and owner Jerry Jones calling for more aggressive play-calling on defence. The bone-chilling conditions didnt stop McCown from throwing for 348 yards or keep the Bears from running away with a lopsided victory. It was one they desperately needed after consecutive losses, and although Detroit holds the head-to-head sweep, the Bears are back in the thick of the playoff race. "All we could do is try to beat the Dallas Cowboys," coach Marc Trestman said. "We kept it as simple as that. We didnt get into all the hypotheticals and all the things that go into winning or losing a game." Alshon Jefferys leaping catch between two defenders in the corner of the end zone in the closing seconds of the second quarter gave the Bears a 24-14 lead, and they continued to pour it on in the second half after a gut-wrenching overtime loss at Minnesota last week. McCown, making his fourth straight start with Jay Cutler sidelined by a high left ankle sprain, became the first Bears quarterback to throw for 300 or more yards in three straight games. And for that, DeMarcus Ware blamed Dallas defence. "If you were back there quarterbacking and we played the way we played you probably would have five touchdowns," he said. McCown, meanwhile, insisted hes still the backup. And Trestman said the plan with Cutler hasnt changed. "Well see where Jay is this week," he said. "Hell have to be released by the doctors and when Jay is ready to play, hell be playing." Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 100 yards, and Jeffery added 84 yards receiving after breaking his own team record the previous week with 249. Matt Forte chipped in with 102 yards rushing and 73 receiving, and the Bears racked up 490 yards in all. "Basically, we will have to make some adjustments in what we are doing defensively," Jones said. "What that usually means is taking more risks on defence. But if youre going to have the kind of match like we had tonight or certainly in New Orleans you have to take some risks. We have to double up and Im sure that will be part of the plan on defence; more risks." Tony Romo threw for three touchdowns but completed just 11 of 20 passes for 104 yards for Dallas. DeMarco Murray ran for 146 yards against the leagues worst run defence, but the Cowboys were overmatched after winning two straight. They also lost linebacker Sean Lee to another injury -- this time a neck issue after making a tackle in the third quarter. He missed the previous two games with a hamstring problem. "Certainly, it was a disappointing loss and the loss stings," coach Jason Garrett said. "The worst thing we can do is have a hangover after this loss." The game-time temperature was 8 degrees with the wind chill at minus 9, but the freezing conditions did nothing to slow either team in the early going. Garrett said both teams handled it well. Murray burned Chicago for 52 yards on six carries on the games opening possession to set up a 2-yard scoring pass from Romo to Dez Bryant, but the Bears scored just about every time they got the ball. After Bryants TD, McCown tied it with a 4-yard pass to Earl Bennett and put Chicago ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter with a 7-yard scramble, leaping at the goal line and getting spun in midair. Jason Witten tied it at 14 when he dragged Major Wright across the goal line on a 10-yard touchdown catch, but the Bears grabbed a three-point lead on Robbie Goulds 27-yard field goal with 1:33 remaining in the half. Jeffery added to it with that neat catch after Dallas was forced to punt. "Im just trying to give him a chance to go up and make the play but not really put the ball in jeopardy, so to speak," McCown said. "My part was relative easy to the catch." NOTES: The record low temperature for a Bears home game is 2 degrees against Green Bay on Dec. 22, 2008. The lowest wind chill was minus 15 against the Packers on Dec. 18, 1983. ... There was a moment of silence for Nelson Mandela before the game. Clyde Drexler Jersey .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Packers by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD — New England 7-4, Green Bay 5-5-1SERIES RECORD — Tied 5-5. Hakeem Olajuwon Rockets Jersey . Winners of two straight, the Flames will try to become the first team in 25 years to go three consecutive games without taking a penalty Saturday night in San Jose. http://www.therocketsofficial.com/Authentic-Steve-Francis-Rockets-Jersey/ . Raymond, 31, started 15 regular-season games for the Stamps in 2013, racking up 51 tackles. He also returned two kickoffs for 79 yards including a 61-yarder.HOUSTON -- For the first time in a long time, the Houston Astros turned up the music and celebrated a victory in their own clubhouse. Dexter Fowler hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Houstons four-run eighth inning, and the Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Saturday night. It was Houstons first home win since a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on April 6, ending a six-game losing streak at Minute Maid Park. The Astros have won three of their last 13 games overall. Fowler also had a solo homer as Houston snapped a three-game losing streak. Chris Carter connected for a two-run shot in the second. The game was tied at 3 when Fowler drove in Marwin Gonzalez with a base hit against Sean Doolittle (0-2). Jason Castro then singled in Jose Altuve, and Fowler and Castro eventually came home on groundouts. "It was just one of those nights, and thats whats frustrating because I looked at the film and dont have a lot of answers," Doolittle said. "I couldnt get anybody out." Doolittle entered the game having allowed just four runs in his previous 18 1-3 innings, dating to last season. "Every now and then, thats going to happen to everybody," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "But you dont expect that to happen to him." Brandon Moss hit a three-run homer in the Oakland ninth against Jerome Williams (1-1). Nick Punto then singled, but Coco Crisp bounced into a fielders choice and Raul Valdes struck out John Jaso and Jed Lowrie for his first save. Houston ended an eight-game losing streak against Oakland, dating to last season. The Astros also improved to 6-25 against the As overall. The series began with a couple of ugly losses when Houston reliever Paul Clemens was ejected Thursday night and manager Bo Porter was thrown out on Friday night for hit-by-pitch-related incidents. But Porter downplayed any extra satisffaction from the victory. Clyde Drexler Rockets Jersey. "Theres nothing extra special about it," Porter said. "Its a team on our schedule, and our goal is to win every game on our schedule." Fowler went deep in the first and Carters two-run shot to left on an 0-1 pitch from Dan Straily gave the Astros a 3-2 lead in the second. Straily struck out seven in 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander allowed four hits and walked two. Straily has allowed at least one home run in each of his first five starts and has allowed seven home runs in 27 innings after allowing just 16 in 152 1-3 innings in 2013. "Eliminate the homers, and Ill be doing just fine," he said. Oakland got to Dallas Keuchel for two runs in the first. Lowrie singled in Crisp, and Derek Norris scored when cleanup hitter Josh Donaldson grounded into a double play. "I just felt lucky to get out of the first with just two runs, especially the way theyve been swinging the bat," Keuchel said. After scoring just seven runs in three games and being swept by the Rangers, the As have scored 28 runs against the Astros in the last three games. The Athletics trailed 3-2 until Crisp drove in Craig Gentry with a sacrifice fly against Williams in the seventh. Keuchel also went 6 1-3 innings for Houston. The lefty was charged with three runs and six hits, struck out six and walked two. NOTES: Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes participated in batting practice and did light individual jogging to test a strained left hamstring. Cespedes left in the seventh inning of Oaklands 10-1 win over Houston on Thursday after legging out an infield single. Melvin said after Saturdays game that Cespedes was doubtful to play on Sunday. ... For just the second time in their last five games, the Astros did not commit an error. They entered the week ranked third in the majors with seven errors but committed eight on Thursday and Friday. ' ' '