CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears are back in the playoff race, and they can thank Josh McCown for that.

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 Ditka’s 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 defense.

The bone-chilling conditions didn’t 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 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 didn’t get into all the hypotheticals and all the things that go into winning or losing a game.”

Alshon Jeffery’s 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.

Here are five things we learned on a frigid night at Soldier Field:

No matter how well McCown plays, the Bears insist he’s still the back up to Jay Cutler.

Even after the veteran became the first Bears quarterback to throw for 300 or more yards, that message came through.

Cutler will get his job back once he’s ready to return from a high left ankle sprain.