PROFESSIONAL ath- letes are famous for using cliches when they speak. They don’t just use cliches, they are coached to believe them as well. In the same way that NFL players are taught to pick up a blitzing defender or to tackle a ball-carrier in the open field, they are programmed to believe that every game is its own entity.

It’s no wonder, then, that players are reluctant to declare a game a must-win affair. Most of the time when you ask an NFL player whether or not a game in November is a do-or-die match-up, you’ll probably be answered with a laugh.

Several members of the Washington Redskins, however, broke away from player-speak this past week. In a league–and in a time–when every game is supposed to be equal to the tilts that precede and succeed it, a few Redskins didn’t hesitate to agree that today’s showdown at Texas Stadium is a season-defining contest.

“No doubt about it,” said starting right tackle Todd Wade when I asked him whether or not today’s game should be considered “must-win.” “We absolutely can’t afford to lose this game.”

Wade’s thoughts are as accurate as an Adam Vinatieri field goal in a Super Bowl. Sure, a Redskins loss wouldn’t even come close to mathematically ending the team’s season. But it would drop Washington to .500 with just six games to play.

Characterizing today’s game with the Cowboys as a must-win and actually getting a win are two completely different things. Washington doesn’t look to match up even remotely well with Dallas on paper, particularly with free safety Sean Taylor sidelined with a knee injury.

Taylor is the anchor of Washington’s defensive backfield, and because of his menacing presence roaming center field, opponents have been unable to make big plays down the field through the air.

When Taylor was forced to leave last week’s game with the Philadelphia Eagles, Donovan McNabb immediately launched a 45-yard touchdown strike over the middle of Washington’s defense.

The Redskins are probably expecting the Cowboys to take similar chances without Taylor lurking in the secondary.

Dallas, who boasts the league’s second-ranked offense, also possesses the NFL’s third-ranked passing attack. The Cowboys are averaging 274 yards a game through the air, which for comparison’s sake is about 90 more per contest than Washington is amassing.

Being an underdog is nothing new to the Redskins.

“We’ll take the field in Dallas and nobody will give us a chance,” said defensive end Phillip Daniels. “Everybody will be counting us out and telling us what we can’t do. We’ll just have to prove them all wrong. We have to prove them wrong.”