Shutdown Corner is previewing all 32 teams as we get ready for the NFL season, counting down the teams one per day in reverse order of our initial 2016 power rankings. No. 1 will be revealed on Aug. 6, the day before the Hall of Fame Game kicks off the preseason.

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How heavily do you weigh strength of schedule in the NFL? Your answer will determine what you think about the Washington Redskins.

On one hand, we all know that playing the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers is tougher than playing the Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans. So NFL strength of schedule matters, of course. But to what degree?

This is one area in which the NFL differs greatly from college football. The gap between the best and worst teams in college is enormous. Of the 41 Week 1 college games listed in Las Vegas, 25 have double-digit spreads. You see spreads of 31.5, 36.5, 38.5, 41.5. The largest spread in the NFL for Week 1 is 8.5 points (Miami Dolphins at Seahawks). There have only been 11 games in NFL history with a spread of 20 points or more, according to Pro Football Reference’s archives. There has never been an NFL spread larger than 26.5 points.

That last paragraph is a long way of saying that all NFL teams are good. The difference between No. 1 and No. 32 isn’t as large as you think. Alabama can schedule Chattanooga, and the Crimson Tide’s chances of losing are about 0 percent. A team like Oklahoma will play what, three games this season in which it will truly be tested? Maybe four, five at the most? NFL teams don’t have that luxury. Every week you play a team capable of beating you.

That last point makes the Redskins an interesting study.

If the NFL had a selection committee decide which teams get in the playoffs, NCAA basketball tournament style, the Redskins would have gone to the NIT. There was not one quality win on their resume. Their best win all season, by far, was beating an 8-8 Buffalo team at home. The Redskins played four teams with winning records all season, including playoffs. They lost to them all by at least two touchdowns: by 14 to the New York Jets, 17 to the New England Patriots, 28 to the Carolina Panthers and 17 to the Green Bay Packers.

That’s right, the NFC East champions were handled by every good team they played last season.

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Does it matter? Again, the Redskins didn’t become bowl eligible by beating Charlotte, Texas State and UTSA. They won nine NFL games and took the division title. Quarterback Kirk Cousins didn’t lead a victory over a winning team all season, but he did put together a 101.6 rating against a schedule of 16 professional teams.

I do think strength of schedule is important when evaluating NFL teams, though obviously it’s not as extreme as you’ll find in college football. Washington’s lack of even one signature win last season is the reason I’m not picking them to repeat as division champions. There are some things to like about this team, but also concerns about the run game and the front seven. Jay Gruden did a nice job rallying the team from a 4-6 start to win five of their last six and win the NFC East. But they’ll need to play a lot better to finish above .500 again. At some point the Redskins will have to show they can beat a playoff-worthy team.

Here’s a key stat to know: Based on Football Outsiders’ metrics, the Redskins played the 25th toughest schedule in the NFL last season. This season, according to Warren Sharp’s strength of schedule calculation at Rotoworld, the Redskins have the fourth toughest schedule.

View photos Kirk Cousins is playing on the franchise tag in 2016 (AP) More