Dolphin Ratings - National Football League

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SEAHAWKS   12  3  0 443 279  0.260  8.174    1  0.579    1  0.620    2  0.631    1 0.6055   13  1.333    2  0.692    2  0.569
RAMS       11  4  0 457 299  0.368  8.941    2  0.543    2  0.570    1  0.688    2 0.6046    5  1.437    1  0.895    3  0.481
BRONCOS    12  2  0 342 261 -0.119  6.041    3  0.524    3  0.546   11  0.137    3 0.5864   23  1.204   15  0.027    9  0.248
49ERS      10  4  0 344 293  0.176  7.526    4  0.449    4  0.466    6  0.251    6 0.5719   18  1.284    9  0.246    8  0.256
JAGUARS    10  4  0 376 292  0.201  7.550    5  0.440    5  0.437    4  0.390    4 0.5768   11  1.377    6  0.513    7  0.267
TEXANS      9  5  0 323 228  0.359  8.337    6  0.427    6  0.404    3  0.484    5 0.5741   32  0.963   12  0.081    1  0.886
BILLS      10  4  0 411 324 -0.065  6.394    7  0.309    7  0.293    7  0.213    7 0.5613    3  1.575    4  0.627   22 -0.202
CHARGERS   10  4  0 315 284 -0.088  6.478    8  0.306    8  0.291   15  0.051   10 0.5484   19  1.237   18 -0.017   11  0.120
BEARS      11  4  0 387 354 -0.180  6.422    9  0.305    9  0.288   14  0.070    9 0.5492    6  1.434    8  0.273   21 -0.134
EAGLES     10  5  0 349 289  0.031  7.481   10  0.304   10  0.286    8  0.212   11 0.5478   28  1.083   21 -0.050    4  0.475
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PATRIOTS   11  3  0 382 276 -0.308  5.127   11  0.285   11  0.260   13  0.118    8 0.5549   12  1.338   10  0.186   15  0.051
COLTS       8  6  0 392 303  0.187  7.439   12  0.208   12  0.184    5  0.279   13 0.5314    7  1.430    7  0.477   14  0.081
PACKERS     9  5  1 364 303 -0.072  6.949   13  0.184   13  0.155   12  0.137   12 0.5338   24  1.174   17 -0.013    6  0.287
LIONS       8  6  0 428 345  0.018  6.822   14  0.125   14  0.100   10  0.177   16 0.5130    2  1.577    5  0.595   25 -0.241
BUCCANEERS  7  7  0 327 354  0.103  7.624   15  0.087   15  0.081   18 -0.055   15 0.5131    8  1.422   11  0.131   26 -0.241
STEELERS    8  6  0 336 326 -0.084  6.590   16  0.077   16  0.067   17 -0.022   14 0.5215   16  1.319   16  0.020   17 -0.064
PANTHERS    7  7  0 264 317 -0.039  7.052   17  0.012   17 -0.000   22 -0.159   17 0.5016   27  1.087   27 -0.417   13  0.098
CHIEFS      6  8  0 328 268  0.114  7.389   18 -0.058   18 -0.073    9  0.200   19 0.4836   25  1.104   20 -0.037    5  0.437
RAVENS      7  7  0 335 320 -0.095  6.464   19 -0.078   19 -0.077   16  0.027   18 0.4843   17  1.306   14  0.052   16  0.003
COWBOYS     6  7  1 407 420 -0.101  6.587   20 -0.110   20 -0.110   21 -0.101   21 0.4735    1  1.785    3  0.652   32 -0.854
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
VIKINGS     6  8  0 289 307 -0.069  6.825   21 -0.135   21 -0.146   20 -0.099   20 0.4785   26  1.098   26 -0.343   10  0.145
DOLPHINS    6  8  0 296 324 -0.190  6.206   22 -0.204   22 -0.221   23 -0.161   22 0.4618   20  1.230   23 -0.238   18 -0.085
FALCONS     5  9  0 281 341 -0.060  6.954   23 -0.251   23 -0.259   24 -0.198   23 0.4577   21  1.229   24 -0.277   19 -0.119
CARDINALS   3 11  0 302 388  0.250  8.577   24 -0.334   25 -0.345   19 -0.087   25 0.4420   10  1.397   13  0.064   24 -0.237
SAINTS      4 10  0 226 332 -0.014  7.394   25 -0.353   24 -0.338   26 -0.278   24 0.4452   31  0.976   30 -0.667   12  0.110
BENGALS     4 10  0 314 437 -0.073  7.120   26 -0.377   26 -0.363   29 -0.402   26 0.4399    4  1.544   19 -0.035   31 -0.769
COMMANDERS  4 11  0 309 404 -0.073  7.489   27 -0.432   27 -0.422   27 -0.359   27 0.4173   14  1.332   25 -0.300   28 -0.418
TITANS      2 12  0 225 394  0.167  8.650   28 -0.488   28 -0.480   28 -0.372   28 0.4157   22  1.216   29 -0.468   27 -0.277
GIANTS      2 12  0 300 396  0.037  7.534   29 -0.560   29 -0.562   25 -0.260   30 0.3967    9  1.421   22 -0.076   29 -0.445
JETS        3 11  0 276 397 -0.211  6.409   30 -0.569   30 -0.576   31 -0.507   29 0.4024   15  1.319   28 -0.465   30 -0.549
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BROWNS      3 11  0 226 332 -0.242  6.244   31 -0.589   31 -0.593   30 -0.485   32 0.3920   29  1.008   31 -0.835   20 -0.134
RAIDERS     2 12  0 196 363 -0.099  7.312   32 -0.625   32 -0.611   32 -0.611   31 0.3958   30  0.979   32 -0.996   23 -0.226

AFC WEST
                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRONCOS    12  2  0 342 261 -0.119  6.041    3  0.524    3  0.546   11  0.137    3 0.5864   23  1.204   15  0.027    9  0.248
CHARGERS   10  4  0 315 284 -0.088  6.478    8  0.306    8  0.291   15  0.051   10 0.5484   19  1.237   18 -0.017   11  0.120
CHIEFS      6  8  0 328 268  0.114  7.389   18 -0.058   18 -0.073    9  0.200   19 0.4836   25  1.104   20 -0.037    5  0.437
RAIDERS     2 12  0 196 363 -0.099  7.312   32 -0.625   32 -0.611   32 -0.611   31 0.3958   30  0.979   32 -0.996   23 -0.226

AFC SOUTH
                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAGUARS    10  4  0 376 292  0.201  7.550    5  0.440    5  0.437    4  0.390    4 0.5768   11  1.377    6  0.513    7  0.267
TEXANS      9  5  0 323 228  0.359  8.337    6  0.427    6  0.404    3  0.484    5 0.5741   32  0.963   12  0.081    1  0.886
COLTS       8  6  0 392 303  0.187  7.439   12  0.208   12  0.184    5  0.279   13 0.5314    7  1.430    7  0.477   14  0.081
TITANS      2 12  0 225 394  0.167  8.650   28 -0.488   28 -0.480   28 -0.372   28 0.4157   22  1.216   29 -0.468   27 -0.277

AFC NORTH
                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STEELERS    8  6  0 336 326 -0.084  6.590   16  0.077   16  0.067   17 -0.022   14 0.5215   16  1.319   16  0.020   17 -0.064
RAVENS      7  7  0 335 320 -0.095  6.464   19 -0.078   19 -0.077   16  0.027   18 0.4843   17  1.306   14  0.052   16  0.003
BENGALS     4 10  0 314 437 -0.073  7.120   26 -0.377   26 -0.363   29 -0.402   26 0.4399    4  1.544   19 -0.035   31 -0.769
BROWNS      3 11  0 226 332 -0.242  6.244   31 -0.589   31 -0.593   30 -0.485   32 0.3920   29  1.008   31 -0.835   20 -0.134

AFC EAST
                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BILLS      10  4  0 411 324 -0.065  6.394    7  0.309    7  0.293    7  0.213    7 0.5613    3  1.575    4  0.627   22 -0.202
PATRIOTS   11  3  0 382 276 -0.308  5.127   11  0.285   11  0.260   13  0.118    8 0.5549   12  1.338   10  0.186   15  0.051
DOLPHINS    6  8  0 296 324 -0.190  6.206   22 -0.204   22 -0.221   23 -0.161   22 0.4618   20  1.230   23 -0.238   18 -0.085
JETS        3 11  0 276 397 -0.211  6.409   30 -0.569   30 -0.576   31 -0.507   29 0.4024   15  1.319   28 -0.465   30 -0.549

NFC WEST
                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SEAHAWKS   12  3  0 443 279  0.260  8.174    1  0.579    1  0.620    2  0.631    1 0.6055   13  1.333    2  0.692    2  0.569
RAMS       11  4  0 457 299  0.368  8.941    2  0.543    2  0.570    1  0.688    2 0.6046    5  1.437    1  0.895    3  0.481
49ERS      10  4  0 344 293  0.176  7.526    4  0.449    4  0.466    6  0.251    6 0.5719   18  1.284    9  0.246    8  0.256
CARDINALS   3 11  0 302 388  0.250  8.577   24 -0.334   25 -0.345   19 -0.087   25 0.4420   10  1.397   13  0.064   24 -0.237

NFC SOUTH
                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCCANEERS  7  7  0 327 354  0.103  7.624   15  0.087   15  0.081   18 -0.055   15 0.5131    8  1.422   11  0.131   26 -0.241
PANTHERS    7  7  0 264 317 -0.039  7.052   17  0.012   17 -0.000   22 -0.159   17 0.5016   27  1.087   27 -0.417   13  0.098
FALCONS     5  9  0 281 341 -0.060  6.954   23 -0.251   23 -0.259   24 -0.198   23 0.4577   21  1.229   24 -0.277   19 -0.119
SAINTS      4 10  0 226 332 -0.014  7.394   25 -0.353   24 -0.338   26 -0.278   24 0.4452   31  0.976   30 -0.667   12  0.110

NFC NORTH
                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BEARS      11  4  0 387 354 -0.180  6.422    9  0.305    9  0.288   14  0.070    9 0.5492    6  1.434    8  0.273   21 -0.134
PACKERS     9  5  1 364 303 -0.072  6.949   13  0.184   13  0.155   12  0.137   12 0.5338   24  1.174   17 -0.013    6  0.287
LIONS       8  6  0 428 345  0.018  6.822   14  0.125   14  0.100   10  0.177   16 0.5130    2  1.577    5  0.595   25 -0.241
VIKINGS     6  8  0 289 307 -0.069  6.825   21 -0.135   21 -0.146   20 -0.099   20 0.4785   26  1.098   26 -0.343   10  0.145

NFC EAST
                                            STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
EAGLES     10  5  0 349 289  0.031  7.481   10  0.304   10  0.286    8  0.212   11 0.5478   28  1.083   21 -0.050    4  0.475
COWBOYS     6  7  1 407 420 -0.101  6.587   20 -0.110   20 -0.110   21 -0.101   21 0.4735    1  1.785    3  0.652   32 -0.854
COMMANDERS  4 11  0 309 404 -0.073  7.489   27 -0.432   27 -0.422   27 -0.359   27 0.4173   14  1.332   25 -0.300   28 -0.418
GIANTS      2 12  0 300 396  0.037  7.534   29 -0.560   29 -0.562   25 -0.260   30 0.3967    9  1.421   22 -0.076   29 -0.445

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   36 22  0 0.621    1  0.597
AFC SOUTH  29 27  0 0.518    2  0.338
NFC NORTH  34 23  1 0.595    3  0.082
AFC WEST   30 26  0 0.536    4 -0.027
AFC EAST   30 26  0 0.536    5 -0.153
NFC EAST   22 35  1 0.388    6 -0.187
NFC SOUTH  23 33  0 0.411    7 -0.267
AFC NORTH  22 34  0 0.393    8 -0.361

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.169 points in main ratings (0.109 for semineutral)
     0.017 points in improved RPI (0.015 for semineutral)
Average of 6.20 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Dec 21 05:32:17 2025
games through: Sat Dec 20 2025

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