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        9  2  0 306 179  0.342  6.404    1  0.538    1  0.549    1  0.630    1 0.6354   21  1.169    5  0.484    1  0.776
BRONCOS     9  2  0 257 192 -0.009  5.086    2  0.421    2  0.421    8  0.186    3 0.5825   27  1.077   20 -0.075    4  0.446
EAGLES      8  3  0 255 225  0.196  6.198    3  0.380    3  0.392    7  0.192    2 0.5897   23  1.165   18  0.040    5  0.344
49ERS       8  4  0 281 261  0.268  6.975    4  0.365    4  0.378    6  0.218    5 0.5739   16  1.301   10  0.245    8  0.192
SEAHAWKS    8  3  0 324 217  0.215  5.888    5  0.361    5  0.366    2  0.420    4 0.5781   10  1.411    3  0.599    7  0.240
COLTS       8  3  0 341 229  0.085  5.227    6  0.303    6  0.302    4  0.314    8 0.5592    4  1.515    2  0.647   16 -0.018
PATRIOTS   10  2  0 318 226 -0.319  4.317    7  0.293    7  0.284   13  0.108    7 0.5628   15  1.313   12  0.151   11  0.066
JAGUARS     7  4  0 267 250  0.230  6.304    8  0.277    8  0.278    9  0.184    6 0.5634   11  1.391    7  0.335   13  0.033
BUCCANEERS  6  5  0 259 284  0.261  6.606    9  0.206    9  0.206   15  0.045    9 0.5490    6  1.452    9  0.283   25 -0.193
BEARS       8  3  0 289 292 -0.291  4.347   10  0.181   11  0.169   21 -0.125   11 0.5353    5  1.497   11  0.180   30 -0.430
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TEXANS      6  5  0 243 182  0.296  6.356   11  0.174   10  0.169    5  0.313   10 0.5482   32  0.960   21 -0.084    2  0.710
PACKERS     7  3  1 263 202 -0.155  4.683   12  0.158   13  0.145   12  0.109   13 0.5308   26  1.120   22 -0.099    6  0.317
LIONS       7  4  0 326 243 -0.015  5.154   13  0.155   12  0.147   10  0.170   12 0.5348    7  1.449    6  0.404   17 -0.064
CHARGERS    7  4  0 246 238 -0.076  5.184   14  0.152   14  0.144   17 -0.031   15 0.5247   17  1.256   19 -0.065   15  0.004
BILLS       7  4  0 311 252 -0.057  5.080   15  0.147   15  0.138   11  0.141   14 0.5282    3  1.558    4  0.539   26 -0.257
CHIEFS      6  5  0 277 201  0.154  5.828   16  0.125   16  0.109    3  0.336   16 0.5227   25  1.127   13  0.137    3  0.535
RAVENS      6  5  0 275 261  0.025  5.537   17  0.062   17  0.067   14  0.088   18 0.5054    8  1.435    8  0.302   21 -0.126
STEELERS    6  5  0 274 263 -0.136  4.946   18 -0.002   18 -0.004   18 -0.031   17 0.5068   12  1.359   15  0.076   22 -0.138
PANTHERS    6  6  0 216 269 -0.094  5.831   19 -0.034   19 -0.035   24 -0.216   20 0.4913   28  1.048   29 -0.510   10  0.079
COWBOYS     5  5  1 320 314 -0.112  5.070   20 -0.045   20 -0.051   16 -0.030   19 0.4920    1  1.735    1  0.650   31 -0.709
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DOLPHINS    4  7  0 226 269 -0.113  5.256   21 -0.208   21 -0.221   23 -0.172   24 0.4427   19  1.234   24 -0.236   20 -0.109
FALCONS     4  7  0 219 249 -0.112  5.190   22 -0.226   22 -0.232   20 -0.122   22 0.4536   22  1.169   25 -0.268   14  0.025
VIKINGS     4  7  0 224 255 -0.162  5.062   23 -0.251   23 -0.237   26 -0.238   21 0.4575   20  1.169   27 -0.384   19 -0.092
CARDINALS   3  8  0 248 283  0.120  6.122   24 -0.270   24 -0.255   19 -0.032   23 0.4459   13  1.359   16  0.074   23 -0.139
COMMANDERS  3  8  0 236 296 -0.066  5.502   25 -0.330   25 -0.321   25 -0.232   26 0.4178   14  1.337   23 -0.156   28 -0.308
BENGALS     3  8  0 248 360 -0.166  5.272   26 -0.359   26 -0.352   31 -0.425   25 0.4297    2  1.609   17  0.052   32 -0.901
BROWNS      3  8  0 186 244 -0.216  4.918   27 -0.396   27 -0.394   27 -0.242   29 0.4065   30  0.985   30 -0.611    9  0.128
SAINTS      2  9  0 165 274 -0.012  5.951   28 -0.409   28 -0.405   30 -0.334   28 0.4166   31  0.960   31 -0.731   12  0.062
GIANTS      2 10  0 264 334  0.095  6.700   29 -0.409   29 -0.408   22 -0.134   27 0.4178    9  1.435   14  0.080   29 -0.348
TITANS      1 10  0 167 303  0.216  6.996   30 -0.428   30 -0.428   28 -0.293   30 0.4018   24  1.164   28 -0.446   24 -0.140
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAIDERS     2  9  0 165 277 -0.141  5.545   31 -0.444   31 -0.450   32 -0.441   31 0.3982   29  0.992   32 -0.801   18 -0.080
JETS        2  9  0 219 291 -0.182  5.098   32 -0.485   32 -0.495   29 -0.329   32 0.3935   18  1.255   26 -0.363   27 -0.294

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     9  2  0 257 192 -0.009  5.086    2  0.421    2  0.421    8  0.186    3 0.5825   27  1.077   20 -0.075    4  0.446
CHARGERS    7  4  0 246 238 -0.076  5.184   14  0.152   14  0.144   17 -0.031   15 0.5247   17  1.256   19 -0.065   15  0.004
CHIEFS      6  5  0 277 201  0.154  5.828   16  0.125   16  0.109    3  0.336   16 0.5227   25  1.127   13  0.137    3  0.535
RAIDERS     2  9  0 165 277 -0.141  5.545   31 -0.444   31 -0.450   32 -0.441   31 0.3982   29  0.992   32 -0.801   18 -0.080

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
COLTS       8  3  0 341 229  0.085  5.227    6  0.303    6  0.302    4  0.314    8 0.5592    4  1.515    2  0.647   16 -0.018
JAGUARS     7  4  0 267 250  0.230  6.304    8  0.277    8  0.278    9  0.184    6 0.5634   11  1.391    7  0.335   13  0.033
TEXANS      6  5  0 243 182  0.296  6.356   11  0.174   10  0.169    5  0.313   10 0.5482   32  0.960   21 -0.084    2  0.710
TITANS      1 10  0 167 303  0.216  6.996   30 -0.428   30 -0.428   28 -0.293   30 0.4018   24  1.164   28 -0.446   24 -0.140

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
RAVENS      6  5  0 275 261  0.025  5.537   17  0.062   17  0.067   14  0.088   18 0.5054    8  1.435    8  0.302   21 -0.126
STEELERS    6  5  0 274 263 -0.136  4.946   18 -0.002   18 -0.004   18 -0.031   17 0.5068   12  1.359   15  0.076   22 -0.138
BENGALS     3  8  0 248 360 -0.166  5.272   26 -0.359   26 -0.352   31 -0.425   25 0.4297    2  1.609   17  0.052   32 -0.901
BROWNS      3  8  0 186 244 -0.216  4.918   27 -0.396   27 -0.394   27 -0.242   29 0.4065   30  0.985   30 -0.611    9  0.128

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   10  2  0 318 226 -0.319  4.317    7  0.293    7  0.284   13  0.108    7 0.5628   15  1.313   12  0.151   11  0.066
BILLS       7  4  0 311 252 -0.057  5.080   15  0.147   15  0.138   11  0.141   14 0.5282    3  1.558    4  0.539   26 -0.257
DOLPHINS    4  7  0 226 269 -0.113  5.256   21 -0.208   21 -0.221   23 -0.172   24 0.4427   19  1.234   24 -0.236   20 -0.109
JETS        2  9  0 219 291 -0.182  5.098   32 -0.485   32 -0.495   29 -0.329   32 0.3935   18  1.255   26 -0.363   27 -0.294

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        9  2  0 306 179  0.342  6.404    1  0.538    1  0.549    1  0.630    1 0.6354   21  1.169    5  0.484    1  0.776
49ERS       8  4  0 281 261  0.268  6.975    4  0.365    4  0.378    6  0.218    5 0.5739   16  1.301   10  0.245    8  0.192
SEAHAWKS    8  3  0 324 217  0.215  5.888    5  0.361    5  0.366    2  0.420    4 0.5781   10  1.411    3  0.599    7  0.240
CARDINALS   3  8  0 248 283  0.120  6.122   24 -0.270   24 -0.255   19 -0.032   23 0.4459   13  1.359   16  0.074   23 -0.139

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  6  5  0 259 284  0.261  6.606    9  0.206    9  0.206   15  0.045    9 0.5490    6  1.452    9  0.283   25 -0.193
PANTHERS    6  6  0 216 269 -0.094  5.831   19 -0.034   19 -0.035   24 -0.216   20 0.4913   28  1.048   29 -0.510   10  0.079
FALCONS     4  7  0 219 249 -0.112  5.190   22 -0.226   22 -0.232   20 -0.122   22 0.4536   22  1.169   25 -0.268   14  0.025
SAINTS      2  9  0 165 274 -0.012  5.951   28 -0.409   28 -0.405   30 -0.334   28 0.4166   31  0.960   31 -0.731   12  0.062

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       8  3  0 289 292 -0.291  4.347   10  0.181   11  0.169   21 -0.125   11 0.5353    5  1.497   11  0.180   30 -0.430
PACKERS     7  3  1 263 202 -0.155  4.683   12  0.158   13  0.145   12  0.109   13 0.5308   26  1.120   22 -0.099    6  0.317
LIONS       7  4  0 326 243 -0.015  5.154   13  0.155   12  0.147   10  0.170   12 0.5348    7  1.449    6  0.404   17 -0.064
VIKINGS     4  7  0 224 255 -0.162  5.062   23 -0.251   23 -0.237   26 -0.238   21 0.4575   20  1.169   27 -0.384   19 -0.092

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  3  0 255 225  0.196  6.198    3  0.380    3  0.392    7  0.192    2 0.5897   23  1.165   18  0.040    5  0.344
COWBOYS     5  5  1 320 314 -0.112  5.070   20 -0.045   20 -0.051   16 -0.030   19 0.4920    1  1.735    1  0.650   31 -0.709
COMMANDERS  3  8  0 236 296 -0.066  5.502   25 -0.330   25 -0.321   25 -0.232   26 0.4178   14  1.337   23 -0.156   28 -0.308
GIANTS      2 10  0 264 334  0.095  6.700   29 -0.409   29 -0.408   22 -0.134   27 0.4178    9  1.435   14  0.080   29 -0.348

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   28 17  0 0.622    1  0.570
AFC SOUTH  22 22  0 0.500    2  0.279
AFC WEST   24 20  0 0.545    3  0.062
NFC NORTH  26 17  1 0.602    4 -0.028
NFC EAST   18 26  1 0.411    5 -0.091
AFC EAST   23 22  0 0.511    6 -0.152
NFC SOUTH  18 27  0 0.400    7 -0.279
AFC NORTH  18 26  0 0.409    8 -0.320

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Nov 25 05:30:10 2025
games through: Mon Nov 24 2025

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