But it was enough to send 85,277 home happy thanks to the Dallas defense, who held back a desperate Redskins' squad. The unit allowed only two field goals, and came up with a big interception with under two minutes remaining to help seal the game. On the day, the visitors totaled 324 yards of offense, but just 78 on the ground.

Quarterback Tony Romo was far from sharp, throwing for just 158 yards on 15-of-27 passing, but the ground game proved sturdy as Marion Barber ran for 99 yards on 20 carries with the group as a whole racking up 153 rushing yards.

Felix Jones went back to receive the opening kickoff after the Cowboys won the coin flip, and danced his way up the middle for a 32-yard return to his own 35. Barber got the offense started by taking a pitch around the left end for five yards with Romo then rolling out and dumping off to tight end Jason Witten, the pass going for no gain. On third and five, Romo threw high to Witten, the ball nearly picked off. On came Mat McBriar for his first punt, Randle El calling for the fair catch at the Redskins' 16.

Running back Ladell Betts tried to go off left tackle, but only gained one, with quarterback Jason Campbell throwing out to receiver Santana Moss for an eight-yard completion. Betts then tried to power up the middle for the final yard, but came up short, Washington forced to punt. Hunter Smith's 41-yard boot was taken by Patrick Crayton at the 34 and returned 14 yards to the Cowboys' 47.

Barber went up the middle for a nine-yard pickup, Jones then carrying the ball off left tackle for four yards and a first down at the Washington 40. Jones took a pitch and cut inside for eight yards with Barber also cutting against the grain for another eight-yard rush and a first down at the Redskins' 24.

Yet another eight-yard gain was dished out by Barber, but on the next play, Barber went up the middle only to have the ball knocked loose by linebacker London Fletcher, the prize squirting out of the pile and picked up by Washington's DeAngelo Hall, only a tackle by Romo saving a touchdown. Hall suffered a knee contusion on the play, but did return later in the half.

Starting at their own 24, a false start penalty on the Redskins immediately pushed them back five. Betts earned two of those yards back with a run up the middle, Campbell missing on a pass attempt to fullback Mike Sellers. Facing third and 13, Campbell was nearly sacked, but instead escaped and found receiver Devin Thomas down the right sideline for a 26-yard completion and a first down at the Washington 47.

Betts went off right tackle for two yards, Campbell missing incomplete to Moss. Third and eight turned into third and 13 after another false start penalty, Campbell then setting up a screen for running back Rock Cartwright, but picking up only one yard on the play. Crayton called for Smith's 43-yard punt at his own 12.

Jones went up the middle on a delayed handoff for five yards, which was followed by Romo rolling out to his right and throwing to tight end Martellus Bennett for a seven-yard catch and a first down at the Dallas 24.

A pitch to Jones around the left end picked up seven with Jones then going off right guard for another two. On third and one, Barber was hit immediately, but still lunged forward for the necessary yardage and a first down at the Cowboys' 35.

Romo tried to connect with Williams on a slant, his pass tipped at the line of scrimmage and nearly picked off, the ball dropped. Barber then went off left tackle for four yards with Romo's pass to Witten falling incomplete. McBriar's 43-yard punt was taken by Moss at his own 18 and returned 10 yards to Washington's 28.

Now without Betts, who left the game with a knee injury, Campbell dropped back to pass and was sacked by blitzing linebacker Keith Brooking. But, an illegal use of the hands call on Terence Newman resulted in a five-yard penalty and automatic first down.

Cartwright went off right tackle for two yards as the first quarter came to an end, then battled his way up the middle for six more to get the second frame underway. On third and two, Campbell threw a swing pass out to Cartwright who turned the corner and picked up nine for a first down at the 50.

Cornerback Orland Scandrick broke up a Campbell pass intended for wideout Malcolm Kelly with running back Quinton Ganther stopped after a two-yard run. On third and eight, Campbell found Moss streaking across the middle for 17 yards and a first down at the Cowboys' 31.

Cartwright went around the right end for six yards, but Brooking broke through again, along with linebacker DeMarcus Ware, sacking Campbell for a loss of 10. Washington then called their first timeout. Looking at third and 14, Campbell handed off to Cartwright on a draw, the play going for eight. Out came Shaun Suisham for a 45-yard attempt, the kick good to get the visitors on the board, 3-0.

Jones hauled in Suisham's kickoff at his own five and brought it back to the Cowboys' 24, a return of 19. Barber tried to break outside, but couldn't quite get around the corner, managing two yards. Romo then threaded one into Witten across the middle for an 11-yard reception and a first down at the Dallas 37.

Barber hurdled his way up the middle for 12 yards and another first down at the Dallas 49, the Cowboys getting into Redskins' territory with a gain of four from Barber. Romo then dropped back to pass but threw behind Austin, incomplete. On third and six, Romo threw high to Williams over the middle, who couldn't hang on. Randle El called for the fair catch of McBriar's 33-yard punt at his own 14.

Cartwright got the drive started by breaking off right tackle and running up the sideline for a 34-yard carry and a first down at the Washington 48. Campbell had to dump off, but couldn't connect, then linebacker Anthony Spencer batted down a Campbell offering at the line of scrimmage. On third and 10, Campbell threw underneath to Cartwright, but only gained six yards. Smith's punt traveled into the end zone, Dallas starting at their 20.

Jones stutter-stepped to the right side and got upended head-over-heels after a gain of two before Romo found Bennett over the middle for a 21-yard completion and a first down at the Cowboys' 43. Jones went off left tackle for six, with the back then getting the call again, rushing off right guard for three yards. On third and one, Barber snuck through the middle, reaching the markers for the first down.

Romo shoveled off to Barber who scampered for eight yards on a play that saw center Andre Gurode slow to get up, the two minute warning also sounding. Gurode did return. Barber went off right tackle and broke outside for nine yards and a first down at the Redskins' 30.

Flozell Adams was called for holding, pushing the Cowboys back 10 yards. Washington was charged with a timeout after linebacker Brian Orakpo came up injured. He did return to the game. Romo went back to pass and lateraled off to Barber on the right side, the back knocked out of bounds after two yards.

A false start penalty marched them back five more yards, the Cowboys facing a second and 23. Romo threw high to Bennett, but the tight end came down with it for a 15-yard reception. Dallas then called timeout as Bennett came up injured, although he did return to the game. Now at third and eight, Romo again threw high, this time to Williams, the pass incomplete. On came Nick Folk for a 46-yard field goal, his kick no good, wide right, the score remaining 3-0.

Taking over with 1:13 left in the half, Campbell hit tight end Fred Davis for 17 yards and a first down at the Dallas 47. Campbell then threw out to Moss on the left sideline for five yards, before his pass to Randle El fell incomplete. On third and five with 46 seconds on the clock, Campbell found Randle El on a slant over the middle for a 13-yard completion to the Dallas 29.

Campbell continued the drive with a nine-yard connection to Cartwright, Washington then calling their third and final timeout. With 21 seconds remaining, Campbell was forced out of the pocket and appeared to run out of bounds for a loss of five. The Redskins were then called for delay of game, the penalty pushing them back five yards to the 31.

But a booth challenge reviewed the previous snap and determined that Campbell had thrown the ball before stepping out of bounds, the pass an incompletion. So, the ball was moved back up to the 21, and the delay of game penalty was not enforced.

So, with 15 seconds left, instead of attempting a 49-yard field goal, Suisham came on for a 39-yard try, and missed it. Romo then took a knee to run out the clock in the first half, the score still 3-0 in favor of Washington.

David Buehler's second-half kickoff bounced down the middle where it was picked up by Thomas at the six and returned 38 yards to the Redskins' 44. After Campbell's pass out to Thomas on the left sideline was incomplete, Cartwright was hit in the backfield for no gain. Washington guard Chad Rinehart had his ankle rolled up on from behind. He was carted off the field and did not return.

Campbell connected with Randle El for 10 yards and a first down at the Dallas 46 with the quarterback then going to Moss on the left side. The play, though, lost one. A false start pushed them back five more with Campbell forced to throw the ball away under pressure. On third and 16, Campbell fired to Moss for nine yards, Smith getting the call again to punt. The Redskins' got a good bounce and downed the ball at the Dallas six-yard line.

Barber was stuffed at the line of scrimmage after a gain of one, Romo then throwing underneath to Witten for a 13-yard completion and a first down at the 20. Romo dropped back again, but missed his target, Austin. Barber then powered up the middle for eight yards, setting up third and two. Tashard Choice got the handoff, but was stopped short of the markers, McBriar coming on for another punt. His boot traveled 46 yards where Randle El called for the fair catch at the Redskins' 25.

Cartwright pushed the stack four yards, which was followed by Campbell throwing underneath to a streaking Cartwright who bolted upfield for 29 yards and a first down at the Dallas 42.

Moss couldn't come down with a pass along the left sideline. Washington was called for an illegal shift on the play, but the penalty was declined. Cartwright then went off right tackle for no gain, the Redskins facing third and 10. Campbell was just able to get off the pass to Randle El, but Scandrick made the play, stopping him after a four-yard gain. Crayton called for a fair catch of Smith's punt at his own 10-yard line.

Romo tried to go deep to Williams down the left sideline, but the two were unable to connect, Jones taking the handoff on second down for a short three yards. Romo then threw incomplete out of bounds, McBriar forced to punt from his own end zone. His 47-yard effort was hauled in by Randle El, but the return man went nowhere, Washington starting at their own 40.

Cartwright went up the middle for one yard, then carried off left guard for four more. Campbell threw out to Kelly on the left sideline, who slipped a tackle and darted up the left sideline for 36 yards and a first down at the Dallas 19. Bobby Carpenter was called for defensive holding, but the penalty was declined.

After Cartwright was dropped in the backfield for a loss of two, Washington continued to go the wrong way after a five-yard false start penalty. The Redskins then called their first timeout with Campbell coming back and throwing underneath to Thomas for one yard. On third and 16, Campbell hit his outlet man, Cartwright, for 12 yards, Suisham coming on for a 31-yard field goal attempt. His try was good, the Redskins upping their lead to 6-0.

Jones took the Suisham offering at his own nine and ran it back to the Cowboys' 24. Romo threw out to Bennett on the left sideline, but the tight end was called for an illegal shift, Dallas penalized five yards. Scrambling, Romo was able to find Austin over the middle for 23 yards and a first down at the Dallas 42 as the third quarter came to an end.

Romo was sacked for a six-yard loss, Barber then taking a delayed handoff up the middle for 17 yards and a first down at the Washington 47. Romo's pass to tight end John Phillips on the right sideline went incomplete, Jones then countering with a run up the middle for nine yards. On third and one, Barber was tripped up in the backfield, the Cowboys deciding to go for it on fourth down. On fourth and two, Romo was nearly sacked, then while going down threw the ball into the arms of the Redskins' Fletcher, Washington taking over at their own 35.

Rolling out to his left, Campbell hit Sellers for seven yards, Ganther taking the next handoff two yards up the middle. On third and one, Campbell hit Davis on a curl for seven yards and a first down at the Dallas 49. Washington then called timeout.

Under pressure, Campbell's pass intended for Thomas fell incomplete, his quick out to Thomas on the right side then going for six. Mike Jenkins appeared to break up a pass to Moss on the next play, but the cornerback was called for illegal contact, which resulted in a five-yard penalty and an automatic first down.

Cartwright plugged up the middle for six, which was followed by Ganther following the same path for two more. On third and two at the 30, Cartwright again tried a run up the middle, but was stuffed for a loss of two. Suisham came out for a 50-yard field goal attempt, his kick wide right, the score remaining 6-0.

Taking over at their own 40, Romo threw wide to Crayton, incomplete, but found Jones underneath for seven. On third and three, Romo scrambled for five yards, first down at the Washington 48. A curl to Witten picked up seven before a curl to Austin tacked on another nine for a first down at the Redskins' 32.

Romo stepped up and threw to Witten over the middle for 12 yards to the 20, then came back to Austin on the right sideline for 11 yards and a first and goal at the nine.

A false start bounced them back five yards, with Romo then finding Austin to gain four back. Romo escaped pressure and then targeting Crayton open in the end zone for the touchdown, Folk was good on the point after attempt and Dallas had the lead, 7-6.

Kicking off with 2:41 left in the game, Buehler boomed one into the end zone, where Thomas ran it out to the 15. But, an illegal wedge penalty on the return pushed them back half the distance to the goal, setting up the Redskins on their own eight.

Campbell stepped up and found Cartwright underneath, Jenkins laying a big hit after a seven-yard gain. Jenkins was hurt on the play, but stayed on the field as Campbell completed a pass to Randle El for seven more yards and a first down at the Washington 22. Jenkins was then helped off and did not return.

The Cowboys blitzed, but Campbell found Randle El on the right side for 11 yards and a first down at the Washington 33 as the two-minute warning sounded. After the break, Campbell tried to throw another pass, but Stephen Bowen tipped it at the line of scrimmage, Spencer then bringing it down for the interception.

Getting the ball at the Washington 37, Romo handed off to Barber for no gain, the Redskins then calling timeout. Barber then got the call again, this time managing two. On third and eight, Barber took a pitch around the right side, gaining only two, Dallas then calling their first timeout with just 14 seconds left. McBriar came on for the punt, Hall calling for the fair catch at his own 14.

With only seven seconds left, Campbell went back and threw a jump ball to Thomas deep downfield, but Newman was there to break it up, the clock hitting zeros, game over.

The victory pushed the Cowboys' record to 7-3 and allowed them to maintain sole possession of first-place lead in the NFC East.