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   15  3  0 524 298  0.228  9.813    1  0.685    1  0.680    1  0.755    1 0.6267   22  1.220    2  0.674    1  0.835
RAMS       14  5  0 572 394  0.254 10.767    2  0.548    2  0.543    2  0.515    2 0.5987    6  1.458    1  0.763    8  0.266
BRONCOS    15  3  0 434 341 -0.092  8.129    3  0.545    3  0.538    8  0.179    4 0.5825   23  1.190   14  0.060    7  0.297
49ERS      13  6  0 466 431  0.257 11.119    4  0.509    4  0.505    7  0.188    5 0.5823   12  1.355   10  0.289   14  0.087
PATRIOTS   16  3  0 534 339 -0.196  7.638    5  0.467    6  0.452    4  0.405    3 0.5854   15  1.297    7  0.427    5  0.383
TEXANS     13  6  0 450 329  0.251 10.781    6  0.463    5  0.453    5  0.400    6 0.5805   27  1.056   13  0.115    2  0.686
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.153  9.485    7  0.459    7  0.451    3  0.434    7 0.5791   14  1.343    4  0.518    6  0.349
BILLS      13  6  0 538 422 -0.021  9.049    8  0.313    8  0.295    6  0.256    8 0.5590    5  1.518    3  0.593   18 -0.081
BEARS      12  7  0 489 462 -0.063  9.092    9  0.208    9  0.187   11  0.097    9 0.5271    7  1.446    9  0.329   20 -0.134
EAGLES     11  7  0 398 348 -0.009  8.913   10  0.190   10  0.171   10  0.101   11 0.5245   28  1.054   21 -0.187    4  0.388
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.035  8.903   11  0.181   11  0.164   16 -0.036   10 0.5268   24  1.106   23 -0.259   10  0.188
STEELERS   10  8  0 403 417 -0.023  9.066   12  0.100   12  0.087   20 -0.109   12 0.5167   16  1.282   19 -0.108   19 -0.110
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413 -0.012  8.397   13  0.047   13  0.027   14  0.058   17 0.4975    4  1.523    8  0.403   26 -0.287
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.041  8.346   14  0.038   15  0.018   13  0.062   15 0.5011   31  0.988   24 -0.302    3  0.427
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.168  9.320   15  0.036   14  0.019    9  0.141   13 0.5086    3  1.528    6  0.494   22 -0.211
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.054  8.715   16  0.020   16  0.000   15 -0.020   16 0.4975   21  1.228   17 -0.089   15  0.049
BUCCANEERS  8  9  0 380 411  0.044  8.988   17  0.018   17 -0.000   19 -0.092   14 0.5054   11  1.372   15  0.033   23 -0.217
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.040  9.669   18 -0.046   18 -0.057   21 -0.112   18 0.4972   25  1.088   27 -0.358   12  0.134
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.020  8.686   19 -0.056   19 -0.060   18 -0.088   19 0.4955   20  1.244   20 -0.137   16 -0.039
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.034  8.310   20 -0.082   20 -0.088   12  0.090   20 0.4850    8  1.398   11  0.252   17 -0.071
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.164  7.713   21 -0.187   21 -0.197   25 -0.231   23 0.4517    1  1.763    5  0.496   32 -0.958
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.170  7.891   22 -0.229   22 -0.241   28 -0.296   21 0.4630   18  1.256   26 -0.330   25 -0.263
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.022  8.380   23 -0.271   23 -0.283   17 -0.050   25 0.4453   26  1.071   25 -0.317    9  0.217
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.071  8.510   24 -0.273   24 -0.285   23 -0.164   22 0.4571   29  1.032   29 -0.477   11  0.149
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.099  8.337   25 -0.288   25 -0.301   24 -0.204   24 0.4479    2  1.581   12  0.229   31 -0.637
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.080  8.431   26 -0.367   26 -0.382   27 -0.284   28 0.4207   13  1.347   22 -0.194   28 -0.374
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.189  7.806   27 -0.438   27 -0.460   29 -0.327   27 0.4210   32  0.925   31 -0.763   13  0.109
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.162 10.074   28 -0.455   29 -0.474   26 -0.239   26 0.4255   10  1.380   18 -0.103   29 -0.376
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.127 10.165   29 -0.459   28 -0.469   30 -0.363   29 0.4193   19  1.254   28 -0.399   27 -0.327
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.064  8.396   30 -0.478   30 -0.492   22 -0.120   30 0.4060    9  1.380   16  0.017   24 -0.257
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.082  8.894   31 -0.572   31 -0.565   31 -0.535   32 0.3930   30  1.020   32 -0.863   21 -0.207
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.149  8.433   32 -0.626   32 -0.624   32 -0.644   31 0.4010   17  1.272   30 -0.656   30 -0.633

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    15  3  0 434 341 -0.092  8.129    3  0.545    3  0.538    8  0.179    4 0.5825   23  1.190   14  0.060    7  0.297
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.035  8.903   11  0.181   11  0.164   16 -0.036   10 0.5268   24  1.106   23 -0.259   10  0.188
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.022  8.380   23 -0.271   23 -0.283   17 -0.050   25 0.4453   26  1.071   25 -0.317    9  0.217
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.082  8.894   31 -0.572   31 -0.565   31 -0.535   32 0.3930   30  1.020   32 -0.863   21 -0.207

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
TEXANS     13  6  0 450 329  0.251 10.781    6  0.463    5  0.453    5  0.400    6 0.5805   27  1.056   13  0.115    2  0.686
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.153  9.485    7  0.459    7  0.451    3  0.434    7 0.5791   14  1.343    4  0.518    6  0.349
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.168  9.320   15  0.036   14  0.019    9  0.141   13 0.5086    3  1.528    6  0.494   22 -0.211
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.127 10.165   29 -0.459   28 -0.469   30 -0.363   29 0.4193   19  1.254   28 -0.399   27 -0.327

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   10  8  0 403 417 -0.023  9.066   12  0.100   12  0.087   20 -0.109   12 0.5167   16  1.282   19 -0.108   19 -0.110
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.034  8.310   20 -0.082   20 -0.088   12  0.090   20 0.4850    8  1.398   11  0.252   17 -0.071
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.099  8.337   25 -0.288   25 -0.301   24 -0.204   24 0.4479    2  1.581   12  0.229   31 -0.637
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.189  7.806   27 -0.438   27 -0.460   29 -0.327   27 0.4210   32  0.925   31 -0.763   13  0.109

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
PATRIOTS   16  3  0 534 339 -0.196  7.638    5  0.467    6  0.452    4  0.405    3 0.5854   15  1.297    7  0.427    5  0.383
BILLS      13  6  0 538 422 -0.021  9.049    8  0.313    8  0.295    6  0.256    8 0.5590    5  1.518    3  0.593   18 -0.081
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.170  7.891   22 -0.229   22 -0.241   28 -0.296   21 0.4630   18  1.256   26 -0.330   25 -0.263
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.149  8.433   32 -0.626   32 -0.624   32 -0.644   31 0.4010   17  1.272   30 -0.656   30 -0.633

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   15  3  0 524 298  0.228  9.813    1  0.685    1  0.680    1  0.755    1 0.6267   22  1.220    2  0.674    1  0.835
RAMS       14  5  0 572 394  0.254 10.767    2  0.548    2  0.543    2  0.515    2 0.5987    6  1.458    1  0.763    8  0.266
49ERS      13  6  0 466 431  0.257 11.119    4  0.509    4  0.505    7  0.188    5 0.5823   12  1.355   10  0.289   14  0.087
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.162 10.074   28 -0.455   29 -0.474   26 -0.239   26 0.4255   10  1.380   18 -0.103   29 -0.376

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  8  9  0 380 411  0.044  8.988   17  0.018   17 -0.000   19 -0.092   14 0.5054   11  1.372   15  0.033   23 -0.217
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.040  9.669   18 -0.046   18 -0.057   21 -0.112   18 0.4972   25  1.088   27 -0.358   12  0.134
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.020  8.686   19 -0.056   19 -0.060   18 -0.088   19 0.4955   20  1.244   20 -0.137   16 -0.039
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.071  8.510   24 -0.273   24 -0.285   23 -0.164   22 0.4571   29  1.032   29 -0.477   11  0.149

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      12  7  0 489 462 -0.063  9.092    9  0.208    9  0.187   11  0.097    9 0.5271    7  1.446    9  0.329   20 -0.134
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413 -0.012  8.397   13  0.047   13  0.027   14  0.058   17 0.4975    4  1.523    8  0.403   26 -0.287
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.041  8.346   14  0.038   15  0.018   13  0.062   15 0.5011   31  0.988   24 -0.302    3  0.427
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.054  8.715   16  0.020   16  0.000   15 -0.020   16 0.4975   21  1.228   17 -0.089   15  0.049

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     11  7  0 398 348 -0.009  8.913   10  0.190   10  0.171   10  0.101   11 0.5245   28  1.054   21 -0.187    4  0.388
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.164  7.713   21 -0.187   21 -0.197   25 -0.231   23 0.4517    1  1.763    5  0.496   32 -0.958
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.080  8.431   26 -0.367   26 -0.382   27 -0.284   28 0.4207   13  1.347   22 -0.194   28 -0.374
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.064  8.396   30 -0.478   30 -0.492   22 -0.120   30 0.4060    9  1.380   16  0.017   24 -0.257

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   45 28  0 0.616    1  0.522
AFC SOUTH  37 34  0 0.521    2  0.270
NFC NORTH  39 31  1 0.556    3  0.074
AFC WEST   35 35  0 0.500    4 -0.110
AFC EAST   39 33  0 0.542    5 -0.135
NFC SOUTH  30 39  0 0.435    6 -0.199
NFC EAST   27 41  1 0.399    7 -0.213
AFC NORTH  29 40  0 0.420    8 -0.256

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon Jan 19 05:30:13 2026
games through: Sun Jan 18 2026

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