McCown knows his role with Bears

One of the reasons Josh McCown is the ideal backup quarterback is because he isn’t a threat to create a distracting controversy even after a fourth straight impressive performance and second straight win while filling in for injured Jay Cutler.

With a passer rating of 100.0, some players in McCown’s position would start to clamor for more playing time or a move up the depth chart. Not McCown.

“I have said this over and over: I’m the backup quarterback on this team,” the 11-year veteran said. “The way I serve my team is to play when the starter is not healthy. Jay is our starting quarterback, there is no doubt about that.”

Cutler did not practice at all last week after suffering a high ankle sprain Nov. 10, and he is unlikely to play this coming Sunday in St. Louis against the Rams.

Good as Gould:All 3 of Robbie Gould#146;s field goals, including the 38-yard winner in overtime, came after heavy rains and amid windy conditions on a soggy, muddy field.#147;It#146;s definitely tougher when the ground#146;s not as sturdy,#148; Gould said after his 11th game-winner. #147;But you find a way to manage it. You find way to make sure you get your job done and make the play you need to help your teammates out.#148;After Gould#146;s 3-for-3 effort he#146;s 19-for-20 on the season. After nine seasons with the Bears, Gould knows how to handle the elements.#147;Just going out there and kicking at halftime and from the end of the game to the beginning of overtime,#148; he said. #147;Just judging the wind. It#146;s very difficult to try and figure out how your foot#146;s going to be, but as long as you can find somewhat of a decent place to put your plant foot and trust your kick #133; Just play it off the right upright and hope it falls in.#148;Coming up small:How well did the offensive line play against Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs, who came in with a combined 17 sacks?One of the first times Dumervil#146;s name was heard over the public-address system was for a roughing-the-passer penalty with 7:32 left in the fourth quarter. Neither player had a sack and, according to the press-box statistics, they had a total of 1 tackle, by Suggs.Sitting it out:In the second quarter, defensive tackle Stephen Paea reinjured the same toe that sidelined him in Weeks 5 and 6, and he did not return.Sunday#146;s inactive players were quarterback Jay Cutler (ankle), linebacker Lance Briggs (shoulder), long snapper Patrick Mannelly (calf), defensive end Shea McClellin (hamstring), defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (groin); offensive linemen James Brown and Jonathan Scott also were inactive.