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
RAMS       10  3  0 379 227  0.322  7.560    1  0.520    1  0.544    1  0.677    1 0.6120   14  1.309    1  0.712    2  0.641
BRONCOS    11  2  0 308 235 -0.129  5.610    2  0.462    2  0.478   12  0.120    3 0.5819   25  1.132   21 -0.075    6  0.315
SEAHAWKS   10  3  0 387 226  0.206  6.765    3  0.454    3  0.470    2  0.617    2 0.5858   12  1.331    3  0.684    3  0.550
49ERS       9  4  0 307 269  0.272  7.515    4  0.420    4  0.450    5  0.290    5 0.5743   19  1.264    8  0.265    7  0.315
JAGUARS     9  4  0 328 272  0.278  7.541    5  0.410    5  0.421    4  0.376    4 0.5803   11  1.333    7  0.444    8  0.308
TEXANS      8  5  0 283 208  0.397  7.979    6  0.366    6  0.357    3  0.448    6 0.5725   32  0.918   16  0.002    1  0.893
PATRIOTS   11  2  0 351 241 -0.309  4.758    7  0.358    7  0.336   10  0.158    7 0.5689   16  1.296   12  0.176   10  0.140
PACKERS     9  3  1 322 247 -0.133  5.706    8  0.275    8  0.251    9  0.160    8 0.5546   23  1.154   17 -0.007    5  0.328
BILLS       9  4  0 376 293 -0.084  5.884    9  0.252    9  0.227    8  0.202   10 0.5488    3  1.536    4  0.564   21 -0.160
EAGLES      8  5  0 289 271  0.096  6.986   10  0.247   10  0.226   13  0.085    9 0.5506   26  1.119   22 -0.126    9  0.296
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
COLTS       8  5  0 376 285  0.114  6.627   11  0.226   11  0.204    6  0.238   13 0.5360    6  1.497    5  0.542   16 -0.067
CHARGERS    9  4  0 299 271 -0.151  5.772   12  0.196   12  0.202   14 -0.007   12 0.5389   18  1.270   19 -0.024   14  0.009
BEARS       9  4  0 334 335 -0.186  5.680   13  0.188   13  0.194   18 -0.051   11 0.5393    5  1.499    9  0.255   27 -0.358
BUCCANEERS  7  6  0 299 325  0.157  7.368   14  0.156   14  0.167   15 -0.013   14 0.5286    7  1.421   11  0.179   24 -0.205
LIONS       8  5  0 394 304 -0.082  5.937   15  0.124   15  0.110   11  0.132   15 0.5223    4  1.515    6  0.462   23 -0.198
PANTHERS    7  6  0 247 297  0.010  6.840   16  0.100   16  0.089   22 -0.115   16 0.5184   27  1.109   25 -0.338   12  0.108
STEELERS    7  6  0 308 311 -0.061  6.324   17  0.047   17  0.031   19 -0.059   17 0.5126   15  1.306   20 -0.028   18 -0.090
CHIEFS      6  7  0 315 252  0.112  6.855   18 -0.003   18 -0.021    7  0.233   18 0.4930   24  1.139   15  0.048    4  0.419
COWBOYS     6  6  1 381 386 -0.084  6.222   19 -0.033   19 -0.038   17 -0.048   19 0.4918    1  1.769    2  0.686   32 -0.782
RAVENS      6  7  0 311 320 -0.087  6.222   20 -0.102   20 -0.112   20 -0.090   20 0.4723    9  1.396   13  0.066   26 -0.246
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DOLPHINS    6  7  0 281 296 -0.206  5.694   21 -0.168   21 -0.165   21 -0.110   21 0.4647   20  1.237   23 -0.170   15 -0.050
VIKINGS     5  8  0 255 281 -0.126  6.161   22 -0.231   22 -0.230   23 -0.163   22 0.4604   28  1.053   27 -0.454   11  0.128
CARDINALS   3 10  0 282 348  0.243  7.925   23 -0.297   23 -0.296   16 -0.046   24 0.4463   10  1.364   14  0.065   20 -0.158
BENGALS     4  9  0 314 413 -0.068  6.623   24 -0.303   24 -0.305   26 -0.267   23 0.4485    2  1.634   10  0.246   31 -0.780
FALCONS     4  9  0 252 313 -0.068  6.504   25 -0.315   25 -0.319   25 -0.214   25 0.4394   21  1.198   24 -0.326   19 -0.103
SAINTS      3 10  0 206 315  0.036  7.205   26 -0.377   26 -0.366   27 -0.270   26 0.4320   31  0.980   30 -0.646   13  0.106
TITANS      2 11  0 201 357  0.162  8.050   27 -0.428   27 -0.420   29 -0.366   27 0.4152   22  1.174   29 -0.508   25 -0.225
COMMANDERS  3 10  0 262 354 -0.089  6.524   28 -0.443   28 -0.440   30 -0.389   29 0.4086   13  1.318   26 -0.340   29 -0.437
GIANTS      2 11  0 279 367  0.072  7.206   29 -0.485   29 -0.482   24 -0.204   28 0.4121    8  1.421   18 -0.012   28 -0.396
JETS        3 10  0 256 349 -0.231  5.792   30 -0.514   30 -0.518   31 -0.457   30 0.4021   17  1.274   28 -0.468   30 -0.446
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BROWNS      3 10  0 223 301 -0.249  5.709   31 -0.527   31 -0.530   28 -0.361   32 0.3919   29  1.052   31 -0.652   17 -0.069
RAIDERS     2 11  0 196 332 -0.126  6.608   32 -0.576   32 -0.561   32 -0.499   31 0.3958   30  1.024   32 -0.824   22 -0.174

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    11  2  0 308 235 -0.129  5.610    2  0.462    2  0.478   12  0.120    3 0.5819   25  1.132   21 -0.075    6  0.315
CHARGERS    9  4  0 299 271 -0.151  5.772   12  0.196   12  0.202   14 -0.007   12 0.5389   18  1.270   19 -0.024   14  0.009
CHIEFS      6  7  0 315 252  0.112  6.855   18 -0.003   18 -0.021    7  0.233   18 0.4930   24  1.139   15  0.048    4  0.419
RAIDERS     2 11  0 196 332 -0.126  6.608   32 -0.576   32 -0.561   32 -0.499   31 0.3958   30  1.024   32 -0.824   22 -0.174

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     9  4  0 328 272  0.278  7.541    5  0.410    5  0.421    4  0.376    4 0.5803   11  1.333    7  0.444    8  0.308
TEXANS      8  5  0 283 208  0.397  7.979    6  0.366    6  0.357    3  0.448    6 0.5725   32  0.918   16  0.002    1  0.893
COLTS       8  5  0 376 285  0.114  6.627   11  0.226   11  0.204    6  0.238   13 0.5360    6  1.497    5  0.542   16 -0.067
TITANS      2 11  0 201 357  0.162  8.050   27 -0.428   27 -0.420   29 -0.366   27 0.4152   22  1.174   29 -0.508   25 -0.225

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    7  6  0 308 311 -0.061  6.324   17  0.047   17  0.031   19 -0.059   17 0.5126   15  1.306   20 -0.028   18 -0.090
RAVENS      6  7  0 311 320 -0.087  6.222   20 -0.102   20 -0.112   20 -0.090   20 0.4723    9  1.396   13  0.066   26 -0.246
BENGALS     4  9  0 314 413 -0.068  6.623   24 -0.303   24 -0.305   26 -0.267   23 0.4485    2  1.634   10  0.246   31 -0.780
BROWNS      3 10  0 223 301 -0.249  5.709   31 -0.527   31 -0.530   28 -0.361   32 0.3919   29  1.052   31 -0.652   17 -0.069

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   11  2  0 351 241 -0.309  4.758    7  0.358    7  0.336   10  0.158    7 0.5689   16  1.296   12  0.176   10  0.140
BILLS       9  4  0 376 293 -0.084  5.884    9  0.252    9  0.227    8  0.202   10 0.5488    3  1.536    4  0.564   21 -0.160
DOLPHINS    6  7  0 281 296 -0.206  5.694   21 -0.168   21 -0.165   21 -0.110   21 0.4647   20  1.237   23 -0.170   15 -0.050
JETS        3 10  0 256 349 -0.231  5.792   30 -0.514   30 -0.518   31 -0.457   30 0.4021   17  1.274   28 -0.468   30 -0.446

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
RAMS       10  3  0 379 227  0.322  7.560    1  0.520    1  0.544    1  0.677    1 0.6120   14  1.309    1  0.712    2  0.641
SEAHAWKS   10  3  0 387 226  0.206  6.765    3  0.454    3  0.470    2  0.617    2 0.5858   12  1.331    3  0.684    3  0.550
49ERS       9  4  0 307 269  0.272  7.515    4  0.420    4  0.450    5  0.290    5 0.5743   19  1.264    8  0.265    7  0.315
CARDINALS   3 10  0 282 348  0.243  7.925   23 -0.297   23 -0.296   16 -0.046   24 0.4463   10  1.364   14  0.065   20 -0.158

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  6  0 299 325  0.157  7.368   14  0.156   14  0.167   15 -0.013   14 0.5286    7  1.421   11  0.179   24 -0.205
PANTHERS    7  6  0 247 297  0.010  6.840   16  0.100   16  0.089   22 -0.115   16 0.5184   27  1.109   25 -0.338   12  0.108
FALCONS     4  9  0 252 313 -0.068  6.504   25 -0.315   25 -0.319   25 -0.214   25 0.4394   21  1.198   24 -0.326   19 -0.103
SAINTS      3 10  0 206 315  0.036  7.205   26 -0.377   26 -0.366   27 -0.270   26 0.4320   31  0.980   30 -0.646   13  0.106

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
PACKERS     9  3  1 322 247 -0.133  5.706    8  0.275    8  0.251    9  0.160    8 0.5546   23  1.154   17 -0.007    5  0.328
BEARS       9  4  0 334 335 -0.186  5.680   13  0.188   13  0.194   18 -0.051   11 0.5393    5  1.499    9  0.255   27 -0.358
LIONS       8  5  0 394 304 -0.082  5.937   15  0.124   15  0.110   11  0.132   15 0.5223    4  1.515    6  0.462   23 -0.198
VIKINGS     5  8  0 255 281 -0.126  6.161   22 -0.231   22 -0.230   23 -0.163   22 0.4604   28  1.053   27 -0.454   11  0.128

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      8  5  0 289 271  0.096  6.986   10  0.247   10  0.226   13  0.085    9 0.5506   26  1.119   22 -0.126    9  0.296
COWBOYS     6  6  1 381 386 -0.084  6.222   19 -0.033   19 -0.038   17 -0.048   19 0.4918    1  1.769    2  0.686   32 -0.782
COMMANDERS  3 10  0 262 354 -0.089  6.524   28 -0.443   28 -0.440   30 -0.389   29 0.4086   13  1.318   26 -0.340   29 -0.437
GIANTS      2 11  0 279 367  0.072  7.206   29 -0.485   29 -0.482   24 -0.204   28 0.4121    8  1.421   18 -0.012   28 -0.396

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   32 20  0 0.615    1  0.644
AFC SOUTH  27 25  0 0.519    2  0.327
NFC NORTH  31 20  1 0.606    3  0.019
AFC WEST   28 24  0 0.538    4 -0.019
AFC EAST   29 23  0 0.558    5 -0.118
NFC EAST   19 32  1 0.375    6 -0.206
NFC SOUTH  21 31  0 0.404    7 -0.249
AFC NORTH  20 32  0 0.385    8 -0.343

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Dec  9 05:30:08 2025
games through: Mon Dec  8 2025

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