The Washington Redskins saw the Dallas Cowboys hit a game-winning field goal in a 19-16 loss Monday night at FedExField. * *

With 4:16 left in the fourth quarter of Monday night's Redskins-Cowboys showdown at FedExField, the Washington Redskins' offense, held without a score all game, took over with the game tied at 9 and an opportunity to earn a hard-earned divisional victory.

The Redskins' struggles with the ball would continue, though, and three quick plays later, they were forced to punt for a sixth time in the game.

The Cowboys took over at their own 32, with 3:25 left on the clock for backup quarterback Matt Cassel, winless on the year as he tried to fill in for an injured Tony Romo.

The Redskins' defense, as it had been doing all game, stepped up to the challenge, forcing an errant Cassel pass on third down and a Dallas punt.

But DeSean Jackson, utilized in a rare role as a punt returner, fumbled the ball in an effort to turn in a big play on the return, giving the ball back to the Cowboys at the Redskins' 15-yard line.

Two plays later, Cowboys running back Darren McFadden, who had previously lost two fumbles in the game, rumbled ahead for a six-yard touchdown. After the extra point, the Cowboys took a 16-9 lead.

So Kirk Cousins and the Redskins' offense had one more chance, taking over at the Dallas 43-yard line after a 42-yard kickoff return by Rashad Ross and a 15-yard facemask penalty on the Cowboys.

And Jackson would get his revenge, burning the Dallas secondary for a 28-yard touchdown on a perfectly-thrown pass by Cousins with 49 seconds left. After the extra point, the Redskins had tied the game at 16.

But the Cowboys, using a big Lucky Whitehead return to the Washington 44, would immediately get into Redskins territory, and five plays later, kicker Dan Bailey would nail a 54-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining to notch a 19-16 Dallas victory.

With the loss, the Redskins fall to 5-7 on the year, and are in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC East with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys faced a golden opportunity with just less than seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Matt Cassel found wide receiver Dez Bryant over the top for a 42-yard gain to the Washington 3. It was Bryant's first catch of the game.

But an impressive defensive stand, highlighted by a stuffed Darren McFadden run from the 1 by Chris Baker and Will Blackmon on third down, held Dallas to a field goal to tie the game at 9 with 4:25 left.

Baker's career year continues. He already is second on the team with a career-best five sacks, but he has also been stout against the run all season, and showed that off on this play in particular, shedding a blocker and denying McFadden.

But the Redskins couldn't cash in, once again, being forced into a three and out. After a goal line stand and three forced and recovered fumbles, Washington could only muster three points.

THIRD QUARTER: Redskins 6, Cowboys 6

We're down to the final 15 minutes of regulation here at FedExField, where the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys are tied at 6.

The offensive strugle continued midway through the third quarter, as neither team had broken more than 150 yards of total offense by the eight-minute mark.

The Redskins did take the lead for the first time all evening at the 10:37 mark, when Dustin Hopkins' second field goal of the night -- a 36 yarder -- split the uprights, giving Washington a 6-3 lead.

That scoring drive was courtesy another Darren McFadden turnover -- his second lost fumble of the game -- when Jason Hatcher snatched the ball out of the running back's grip, which was recovered by Mason Foster at the Dallas 41. Foster is making his first-career start with the Redskins, filling in for an injured Perry Riley Jr., who broke a bone in his foot last week and is expected to miss 3-6 weeks while he recovers from surgery.

The Cowboys would benefit from two pass interference calls on the Redskins on their ensuing drive, the second of which giving them the ball at the Washington 36.

To this point, the penalties have been an issue for the Redskins, who have had eight called against them for 74 yards. The Cowboys, despite what some fans might believe, aren't far behind with six penalties for 50 yards.

To the credit of the Washington defense, it would only allow a field goal on this Dallas drive, however, in the form of a 34-yard kick by Dan Bailey to tie the game at 6 with 3:39 left in the third quarter.

The yellow penalty flag -- and an efficiently-moving offense -- would begin to haunt the Cowboys on the Redskins' ensuing drive. A defensive holding call gave Washington a 1st and 10 at its own 42. Two plays alter, an illegal use of hands call was declined, but because Kirk Cousins found tight end Jordan Reed for a nifty 16-yard pass play.

The Redskins face a 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 31 when we return for the fourth quarter.

HALFTIME: Redskins 3, Cowboys 3

Tonight's offensive struggle -- or defensive showdown -- between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys has reached halftime.

Entering the third quarter, Washington and Dallas are tied up at 3.

Redskins fans are yet to see the same offense that has looked electric at times in their current 5-game home winning streak. Washington has been forced to punt five times already, as quarterback Kirk Cousins has been sacked three times by the Dallas defense.

The Redskins began the second quarter with the ball, but that drive was halted by an illegal crackback block on a nine-yard pass from Cousins to Jamison Crowder.

The Cowboys would respond with a 10-play, 60-yard drive that took 5:17 off the clock. Fortunately for the Redskins, the drive would only end in a 38-yard Dan Bailey field goal. With 6:36 left in the second quarter, Dallas claimed a 3-0 lead.

For the first time all game, Washington was able to get its offense moving a little bit on its ensuing drive, but faced a 3rd and 14 from the Dallas 46. Cousins dropped back and threw a rope over the middle to Pierre Garçon for 14 yards and the first down.

Garçon, as usual, showed off his toughness on the reception, and was glad to let the Cowboys defenders around him know it.

Now at the Dallas 25 after a seven-yard pass to DeSean Jackson, Washington faced a 3rd and 3. With Cousins lined up in the shotgun, he found Jackson on the right edge for the first down, but a pass interference call on Garçon as he blocked downfield -- the call made to the dismay of head coach Jay Gruden -- set up a 3rd and 13 from the 35.

A nine-yard pass would improve a field goal try for Dustin Hopkins, which he nailed from 45 yards out with 52 seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at 3.

It was a 14-play, 58-yard scoring drive that 6:31 off the clock. Some good momentum heading into the half.

FIRST QUARTER: Redskins 0, Cowboys 0

And we're underway.

The Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys are off to their 17th all-time meeting on Monday Night Football, and, perhaps not surprisingly, they are looking to break an 8-8 tie in those matchups tonight.

The Cowboys won the opening coin toss and elected to defer to the second half, giving the opening kickoff to the Redskins, which was downed in the end zone for a touchback.

But quarterback Kirk Cousins -- who has thrown 10 straight touchdown passes without an interception in home games entering tonight -- immediately felt the Cowboys' front line, as he was sacked on their first play from scrimmage.

Not the start the Redskins needed. The Cowboys simply stuffed the middle, and overloaded center Josh LeRibeus.

After a nine-yard completion to DeSean Jackson, the Cowboys struck again with a strip sack of Cousins, which the quarterback recovered at his own 14.

Three and out.

Tress Way's punt was fielded by Lucky Whitehead, who took it to the Washington 39. But a holding call helped Washington, pushing Dallas back to its own 34.

The Redskins' defense then got its first shot at Cowboys quarterback Matt Cassel, who's filling in for Tony Romo. Romo suffered another devastating clavicle injury.

But on the Cowboys' second play from scimmage, running back Darren McFadden was stripped by safety Dashon Goldson, and the defensive captain jumped on the ball to earn the turnover at the Dallas 38.

The Redskins would continue their early struggles on offense, however. Another three and out produced another Way punt, this one downed at the Dallas 5-yard line by wide receiver Ryan Grant.

Washington needs to turn up the intensity on offense. On their third down play in their second drive, Cousins looked deep for Jackson in the end zone, but he was forced into a bad pass once again by a heavy Dallas pass rush.

Also, the Redskins' offense must capitalize on early mistakes by their opponent. Last week, the Giants were intercepted twice in the first quarter, and Washington couldn't muster a score. So far, one Dallas turnover in their territory, and no Washington score.

But the defense answered the call again, forcing a three-and-out. On third down, outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan brought some terrific pressure and forced an errant Cassel throw.

After the punt -- and a block in the back penalty on the return -- the Redskins took over at their own 47. On their first

Their possession didn't last long, however, in large part due to an offensive pass interference call on tight end Jordan Reed. Another punt started another Dallas drive at their own 35.

Washington forced another Dallas punt on the ensuing drive, however, even after the Cowboys earned their first first down of the game on a 13-yard end around play by Whitehead.

So far, we have a battle featuring either bad offense or good defense: Dallas has 23 total yards (all rushing); Washington has -1.

The Redskins wouldn't muster much on their next drive, and a sack -- a third of the game for Dallas -- ended things at their own 20.

Dallas took over at its own 41, fumbled on its first play -- which was recovered for a loss of 10 by Cassel -- and quickly faced a 3rd and 23 with the quarter coming to an end. Cassel's pass to Robert Turbin was good for 15 -- but wasn't close to earning a first down.

The Redskins take over at their own 20-yard line when we pick things up in the second quarter.

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The Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys head to overtime, tied at 16 in a Monday Night Football thriller at FedExField.