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   16  3  0 555 325  0.255 10.586    1  0.736    1  0.728    1  0.747    1 0.6319   20  1.242    2  0.697    1  0.798
RAMS       14  6  0 599 425  0.305 11.665    2  0.521    2  0.515    2  0.525    3 0.5929    6  1.475    1  0.801    8  0.250
PATRIOTS   17  3  0 544 346 -0.162  8.321    3  0.511    4  0.497    4  0.413    2 0.5937   21  1.241    8  0.362    3  0.463
49ERS      13  6  0 466 431  0.253 11.121    4  0.506    3  0.501    7  0.178    4 0.5821   12  1.350   10  0.275   14  0.082
BRONCOS    15  4  0 441 351 -0.078  8.758    5  0.482    5  0.472    8  0.158    7 0.5722   23  1.130   16 -0.034    6  0.351
TEXANS     13  6  0 450 329  0.247 10.780    6  0.466    6  0.448    5  0.387    5 0.5797   27  1.058   13  0.106    2  0.667
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.147  9.479    7  0.461    7  0.446    3  0.418    6 0.5778   14  1.342    4  0.503    7  0.333
BILLS      13  6  0 538 422 -0.023  9.061    8  0.316    8  0.292    6  0.247    8 0.5591    4  1.524    3  0.595   18 -0.102
BEARS      12  7  0 489 462 -0.068  9.093    9  0.209    9  0.183   11  0.091    9 0.5259    7  1.445    9  0.322   20 -0.140
EAGLES     11  7  0 398 348 -0.015  8.904   10  0.190   10  0.166   10  0.093   11 0.5225   28  1.054   22 -0.192    5  0.378
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 -0.041  8.891   11  0.181   11  0.159   16 -0.040   10 0.5250   24  1.113   23 -0.254   10  0.173
STEELERS   10  8  0 403 417 -0.026  9.074   12  0.101   12  0.084   20 -0.110   12 0.5170   15  1.282   19 -0.107   19 -0.113
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413 -0.016  8.397   13  0.048   13  0.023   14  0.052   17 0.4962    5  1.521    7  0.396   26 -0.292
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.045  8.346   14  0.038   14  0.014   13  0.056   15 0.5005   31  0.986   24 -0.309    4  0.421
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.163  9.314   15  0.035   15  0.014    9  0.133   13 0.5073    3  1.528    6  0.487   23 -0.221
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.059  8.710   16  0.020   17 -0.004   15 -0.025   18 0.4961   22  1.231   17 -0.088   15  0.039
BUCCANEERS  8  9  0 380 411  0.042  9.000   17  0.019   16 -0.003   19 -0.093   14 0.5057   11  1.372   14  0.034   22 -0.221
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.037  9.682   18 -0.045   18 -0.060   21 -0.113   16 0.4972   25  1.087   27 -0.359   12  0.132
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.022  8.697   19 -0.055   19 -0.062   18 -0.089   19 0.4959   19  1.244   20 -0.135   16 -0.042
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.036  8.321   20 -0.082   20 -0.091   12  0.085   20 0.4848    8  1.398   11  0.248   17 -0.079
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 -0.169  7.703   21 -0.189   21 -0.202   25 -0.231   23 0.4499    1  1.765    5  0.501   32 -0.962
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.171  7.908   22 -0.229   22 -0.243   28 -0.292   21 0.4639   17  1.259   26 -0.319   24 -0.264
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.073  8.523   23 -0.272   24 -0.289   23 -0.163   22 0.4574   29  1.033   29 -0.474   11  0.147
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.028  8.365   24 -0.273   23 -0.289   17 -0.055   25 0.4430   26  1.075   25 -0.316    9  0.205
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.102  8.343   25 -0.288   25 -0.305   24 -0.202   24 0.4475    2  1.586   12  0.240   31 -0.645
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.086  8.421   26 -0.369   26 -0.387   27 -0.282   28 0.4192   13  1.347   21 -0.190   29 -0.375
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.192  7.816   27 -0.439   27 -0.463   29 -0.322   27 0.4211   32  0.926   31 -0.755   13  0.111
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.159 10.076   28 -0.456   29 -0.478   26 -0.237   26 0.4250   10  1.376   18 -0.105   28 -0.370
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.123 10.164   29 -0.460   28 -0.474   30 -0.359   29 0.4184   18  1.257   28 -0.388   27 -0.329
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.069  8.390   30 -0.480   30 -0.498   22 -0.122   30 0.4046    9  1.385   15  0.024   25 -0.268
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 -0.088  8.882   31 -0.575   31 -0.569   31 -0.527   32 0.3911   30  1.027   32 -0.844   21 -0.210
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.151  8.446   32 -0.627   32 -0.627   32 -0.631   31 0.4013   16  1.279   30 -0.632   30 -0.630

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  4  0 441 351 -0.078  8.758    5  0.482    5  0.472    8  0.158    7 0.5722   23  1.130   16 -0.034    6  0.351
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.041  8.891   11  0.181   11  0.159   16 -0.040   10 0.5250   24  1.113   23 -0.254   10  0.173
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.028  8.365   24 -0.273   23 -0.289   17 -0.055   25 0.4430   26  1.075   25 -0.316    9  0.205
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.088  8.882   31 -0.575   31 -0.569   31 -0.527   32 0.3911   30  1.027   32 -0.844   21 -0.210

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  0.247 10.780    6  0.466    6  0.448    5  0.387    5 0.5797   27  1.058   13  0.106    2  0.667
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.147  9.479    7  0.461    7  0.446    3  0.418    6 0.5778   14  1.342    4  0.503    7  0.333
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.163  9.314   15  0.035   15  0.014    9  0.133   13 0.5073    3  1.528    6  0.487   23 -0.221
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.123 10.164   29 -0.460   28 -0.474   30 -0.359   29 0.4184   18  1.257   28 -0.388   27 -0.329

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 -0.026  9.074   12  0.101   12  0.084   20 -0.110   12 0.5170   15  1.282   19 -0.107   19 -0.113
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.036  8.321   20 -0.082   20 -0.091   12  0.085   20 0.4848    8  1.398   11  0.248   17 -0.079
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.102  8.343   25 -0.288   25 -0.305   24 -0.202   24 0.4475    2  1.586   12  0.240   31 -0.645
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.192  7.816   27 -0.439   27 -0.463   29 -0.322   27 0.4211   32  0.926   31 -0.755   13  0.111

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   17  3  0 544 346 -0.162  8.321    3  0.511    4  0.497    4  0.413    2 0.5937   21  1.241    8  0.362    3  0.463
BILLS      13  6  0 538 422 -0.023  9.061    8  0.316    8  0.292    6  0.247    8 0.5591    4  1.524    3  0.595   18 -0.102
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.171  7.908   22 -0.229   22 -0.243   28 -0.292   21 0.4639   17  1.259   26 -0.319   24 -0.264
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.151  8.446   32 -0.627   32 -0.627   32 -0.631   31 0.4013   16  1.279   30 -0.632   30 -0.630

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   16  3  0 555 325  0.255 10.586    1  0.736    1  0.728    1  0.747    1 0.6319   20  1.242    2  0.697    1  0.798
RAMS       14  6  0 599 425  0.305 11.665    2  0.521    2  0.515    2  0.525    3 0.5929    6  1.475    1  0.801    8  0.250
49ERS      13  6  0 466 431  0.253 11.121    4  0.506    3  0.501    7  0.178    4 0.5821   12  1.350   10  0.275   14  0.082
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.159 10.076   28 -0.456   29 -0.478   26 -0.237   26 0.4250   10  1.376   18 -0.105   28 -0.370

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  0.042  9.000   17  0.019   16 -0.003   19 -0.093   14 0.5057   11  1.372   14  0.034   22 -0.221
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.037  9.682   18 -0.045   18 -0.060   21 -0.113   16 0.4972   25  1.087   27 -0.359   12  0.132
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.022  8.697   19 -0.055   19 -0.062   18 -0.089   19 0.4959   19  1.244   20 -0.135   16 -0.042
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.073  8.523   23 -0.272   24 -0.289   23 -0.163   22 0.4574   29  1.033   29 -0.474   11  0.147

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 -0.068  9.093    9  0.209    9  0.183   11  0.091    9 0.5259    7  1.445    9  0.322   20 -0.140
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413 -0.016  8.397   13  0.048   13  0.023   14  0.052   17 0.4962    5  1.521    7  0.396   26 -0.292
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.045  8.346   14  0.038   14  0.014   13  0.056   15 0.5005   31  0.986   24 -0.309    4  0.421
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.059  8.710   16  0.020   17 -0.004   15 -0.025   18 0.4961   22  1.231   17 -0.088   15  0.039

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 -0.015  8.904   10  0.190   10  0.166   10  0.093   11 0.5225   28  1.054   22 -0.192    5  0.378
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.169  7.703   21 -0.189   21 -0.202   25 -0.231   23 0.4499    1  1.765    5  0.501   32 -0.962
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.086  8.421   26 -0.369   26 -0.387   27 -0.282   28 0.4192   13  1.347   21 -0.190   29 -0.375
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.069  8.390   30 -0.480   30 -0.498   22 -0.122   30 0.4046    9  1.385   15  0.024   25 -0.268

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   46 29  0 0.613    1  0.518
AFC SOUTH  37 34  0 0.521    2  0.265
NFC NORTH  39 31  1 0.556    3  0.069
AFC WEST   35 36  0 0.493    4 -0.120
AFC EAST   40 33  0 0.548    5 -0.134
NFC SOUTH  30 39  0 0.435    6 -0.201
NFC EAST   27 41  1 0.399    7 -0.219
AFC NORTH  29 40  0 0.420    8 -0.259

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.172 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 26 05:30:09 2026
games through: Sun Jan 25 2026

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