The Washington Redskins lost their season opener to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, falling by a final of 38-16 at FedExField. Chris Thompson had the team's lone touchdown on the evening. 

The Redskins had their moments to perhaps put the Steelers on the ropes early in their Monday Night Football matchup at FedExField, but couldn't capitalize.

Whether it was having to settle for field goal attempts from Dustin Hopkins or Ryan Kerrigan's forced fumble that the Steelers ultimately retained, the Redskins left the Steelers in the game.

As a result Pittsburgh grew stronger as the game went on, particularly on offense, and won by a final of 38-16.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished the night with more than 300 yards passing, but didn't throw a touchdown pass after throwing one in all 16 regular season games last year.

Running back Matt Jones struggled to produce in his first game back from an AC sprain suffered in the preseason, as he managed just 23 rushing yards on seven carries.

Defensively, the Redskins had an inconsistent performance against one of the league's top offense. Despite forcing a three-and-out to start the game and then intercepting Ben Roethlisberger later in the first quarter, the Steelers racked up more than 400 yards of total offense.

Fourth Quarter: Redskins 16, Steelers 38

The Redskins have scored their first touchdown of the 2016 season with 13:01 left in the fourth quarter, as Chris Thompson was able to capitalize on a lethal passing attack with a one-yard touchdown, the first rushing touchdown of his career. 

Prior to Thompson's touchdown, Kirk Cousins connected on passes with Jordan Reed, Pierre Garçon and Vernon Davis. 

Dustin Hopkins nailed his extra point attempt to narrow the Steelers' lead to just eight.

But the Steelers would come back and score their fourth touchdown of the evening, as DeAngelo Williams capped of a 13-play, 83-yard drive for a touchdown. As nearly every NFL team has experienced over the year, the Redskins had to deal with Ben Roethlisberger's ability to extend plays, as just one play before Williams' score the quarterback broke loose just long enough to find Antonio Brown for 21 yards.

Washington's next drive lasted five plays and gained 25 yards, but would end with a turnover on downs as Cousins gained just eight yards on 4th-and-10. DeSean Jackson went over the century mark during the drive, as he now has six receptions for 102 yards on the evening.

Getting the ball back on the Redskins' side of the field, DeAngelo Williams was able to score his second rushing touchdown of the evening with less than two minutes left in the game.

Washington got the ball back and quickly marched down the field, benefitting from a long pass interference call on Ross Cockrell that placed the ball inside the 10-yard line. 

But Cousins was intercepted for the second time in the game, the offense's last play on the night.

Third Quarter: Redskins 9, Steelers 24

The Steelers tacked on three points on their first drive out of the half, as Pittsburgh marched 47 yards on seven plays for Chris Boswell's first field goal conversion of the evening, a 46-yard attempt.

While DeAngelo Williams continued to cause problems for the Redskins' run defense, Ben Roethlisberger was just 1-of-3 on the drive. 

Washington's offense's first drive out of the break lasted just four plays, as Kirk Cousins was intercepted by linebacker Ryan Shazier, who nearly took it back for a pick-six, but a block in the back call resulted in Pittsburgh's next drive starting at their own 25-yard line instead.

The Redskins struggled to stop the Steelers' explosive plays on the ensuing drive – even as it started on the 25-yard line -- following the interception, as the Steelers were able to get into Redskins territory quickly with a 42-yard pass completion followed by a 26-yard touchdown by wide receiver Antonio Brown on 3rd-and-3.

After Will Blackmon's first kickoff return with the Redskins started Washington's next drive on the 32-yard line, Matt Jones recorded his longest run of the night so far with a 12-yard scamper. Cousins would find DeSean Jackson on back-to-back passes for a first down.

The Redskins continued to find success through the air, as Cousins would also connect with Chris Thompson and Pierre Garçon (three times) to push Washington further into Pittsburgh territory.

But on 3rd-and-6 from the 16-yard line, Cousins was unable to locate Crowder in the back of the end zone, and the Redskins settled for three more points from Dustin Hopkins.

The Redskins forced a three-and-out on the Steelers' next drive before Crowder returned a Jordan Berry punt 17 yards to the Washington 23-yard line with just 19 seconds left in the quarter.

Second Quarter: Redskins 6, Steelers 14

The Steelers' continued drive from the first quarter netted the AFC North team their first points of the evening, as Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown for a 29-yard touchdown reception on 4th-and-1. Brown leapt into the air and grabbed the ball over top of Bashaud Breeland and DeAngelo Hall. The extra point was good.

The Redskins, however, weren't shy in their initial response. On the first play of the responding drive, a play action pass from Kirk Cousins to DeSean Jackson produced a 33-yard gain. It would be the most positive play of the drive, though, as the Redskins were set back by penalties before falling just short of a first down on a 4th-and-6 play from Pittsburgh's 38-yard line.

Pittsburgh's second drive of the quarter lasted nearly six minutes, resulting in the Steelers' second consecutive drive. On the drive, the Steelers incorporated a lot of running out veteran running back DeAngelo Williams, as the 33-year old ran the ball four times and caught another pass on the drive. The drive would end when Eli Rogers caught a pass batted into the air for a three-yard touchdown.

The Redskins got the ball back with just 27 second left before taking a knee to end the half.

While the Redskins trailed by eight going into the locker room, they remain right in the game with one of the NFL's best teams.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins connected on 12-of-18 passes for 146 yards, while Will Compton leads the defense with eight combined tackles. Bashuad Breeland, of course, also had the first quarter interception.

First Quarter: Redskins 6, Steelers 0

There was a theme to start tonight's game. Give the ball to Jordan Reed and let him do the rest.

After a touchback to start the game, the Redskins elected to pass on their very first offensive play, with Kirk Cousins hitting Reed for a 12-yard gain and a new set of downs.

The Redskins would give the ball to Matt Jones for no gain on the next play, before Reed juked his way to a first down for Washington yet again, catching the ball before leaving Lawrence Timmons in his tracks with a shifty move.

On the next third-down play, 3rd-and-14 from Washington's 47-yard line, Cousins found Reed underneath for a 13-yard gain.

While the drive would stall out at the Pittsburgh 40-yard line, it was clear that the Redskins will test the Steelers' defense with Reed's athleticism.

After pinning the Steelers down at their own 13-yard line to start their first drive, the Redskins defense made their first appearance of the evening at the 11:16 mark.

Pittsburgh's first offensive play of the game was a DeAngelo Williams carry for no gain.

The Redskins would hold the Steelers offense to a three-and-out on the first drive, as Ben Roethlisberger completed two passes for eight yards, which wasn't enough to move the chains. 

Washington's offense would start their second drive of the game from their own 33-yard line. After Jones carried it for five yards on the first play of the drive, Cousins linked up with DeSean Jackson for the first time this year, a 31-yard gain. Jackson was able to take a short game on the left side of the field and race up into Pittsburgh territory. Jackson would catch his second pass of the game three plays later, hauling in a six-yard reception on 3rd-and-2. 

The drive would end with just three points, though, as Dustin Hopkins converted on his first kick of the season, a 31-yard field goal attempt.

After holding the Steelers to just three plays on their first drive of the game, the Redskins' defense's second appearance of the game lasted just five plays, as cornerback Bashaud Breeland hauled in his fifth career interception on a pass knocked into the air and then catch it and race up-field for a 17-yard gain.

The play would set up the Redskins' second field goal make of the quarter, as Hopkins was successful on a 40-yard attempt. 

Pittsburgh got the ball back with 1:08 left on the clock following a Hopkins touchback. Ziggy Hood would sack Roethlisberger on the first drive of the game and Ryan Kerrigan forced a fumble that would be recovered by the Steelers just before the end of the quarter.