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 PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PATRIOTS   1 1 30 16  0.351  1.196   14  0.030   14  0.033    5  0.104    9 0.5392   32  0.778   31 -0.443    1  0.651 P
SEAHAWKS   2 0 44 17  0.261  1.100    1  0.092    1  0.137    1  0.190    1 0.6334   27  1.003   19 -0.111    2  0.491 P
VIKINGS    2 0 48 25 -0.040  0.883    5  0.080    5  0.105    8  0.095    4 0.5949   31  0.933   28 -0.287    3  0.476 P
RAMS       1 1 35 33  0.217  1.094   10  0.053   11  0.038    7  0.099   10 0.5370   28  0.990   27 -0.216    4  0.415 P
JETS       1 1 40 30 -0.514  0.584   25 -0.091   24 -0.046   26 -0.085   28 0.4160   30  0.940   32 -0.458    5  0.288 P
STEELERS   1 1 23 33 -0.066  0.995   16  0.024   17  0.013   22 -0.039   18 0.4914   29  0.982   29 -0.364    6  0.286 P
49ERS      2 0 62 20  0.112  0.918    3  0.085    3  0.117    2  0.186    3 0.6006   19  1.191   12  0.115    7  0.256 P
BRONCOS    1 1 30 44  0.310  1.283   11  0.051   10  0.042   15  0.020   11 0.5338   25  1.075   25 -0.196    8  0.236 P
FALCONS    1 2 51 68 -0.250  1.261   23 -0.062   27 -0.059   31 -0.105   26 0.4342   26  1.028   30 -0.377    9  0.167 P
JAGUARS    1 1 47 30 -0.132  0.831   18  0.021   20  0.004   11  0.054   15 0.5031   24  1.164   17 -0.052   10  0.159 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BENGALS    2 0 53 33 -0.041  0.912    7  0.075    6  0.099   10  0.062    7 0.5530   18  1.193   15 -0.007   11  0.130 P
RAIDERS    2 0 53 27 -0.404  0.635    8  0.060    8  0.060   21 -0.023   12 0.5268   23  1.171   20 -0.120   12  0.075 P
CARDINALS  1 1 33 45  0.084  1.127   17  0.022   16  0.017   23 -0.046   17 0.5014   22  1.177   22 -0.135   13  0.044 P
TEXANS     0 2 37 56  0.226  1.232   27 -0.094   26 -0.056   18 -0.009   24 0.4492   15  1.215   16 -0.050   14  0.031 P
EAGLES     2 0 48 42 -0.414  0.607    6  0.076    7  0.089   13  0.033    8 0.5393   13  1.270   14  0.064   15  0.001 P
GIANTS     1 1 34 48  0.020  1.105   20 -0.006   19  0.005   30 -0.102   19 0.4783   21  1.180   24 -0.188   16 -0.016 P
CHIEFS     2 0 64 40 -0.000  0.915    4  0.083    4  0.113    4  0.119    5 0.5908   11  1.348    8  0.258   17 -0.020 P
BROWNS     1 1 33 53  0.045  1.125   19 -0.005   18  0.008   29 -0.101   20 0.4655   20  1.186   23 -0.178   18 -0.023 P
CHARGERS   0 2 28 52 -0.277  0.812   31 -0.107   31 -0.096   25 -0.082   30 0.3998   16  1.205   21 -0.135   19 -0.029 P
SAINTS     1 1 54 48  0.390  1.329   12  0.048   12  0.038   12  0.045   13 0.5205   12  1.306   11  0.126   20 -0.036 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAVENS     1 1 58 47  0.144  1.070   13  0.033   13  0.035    6  0.104   16 0.5026   10  1.350   10  0.244   21 -0.037 P
TITANS     0 2 30 47 -0.310  0.818   32 -0.116   32 -0.115   32 -0.135   32 0.3553   17  1.199   26 -0.196   22 -0.074 P
DOLPHINS   0 2 26 62  0.278  1.350   28 -0.099   28 -0.063   28 -0.099   25 0.4373   14  1.239   18 -0.109   23 -0.090 P
BEARS      1 1 62 46  0.183  1.152   15  0.025   15  0.023   14  0.027   14 0.5125    8  1.430    6  0.281   24 -0.227 P
COMMANDERS 0 2 42 61  0.011  1.074   30 -0.107   29 -0.086   24 -0.082   31 0.3966    9  1.371   13  0.088   25 -0.251 P
COWBOYS    1 1 57 48 -0.365  0.674   21 -0.022   22 -0.017   19 -0.011   22 0.4585    7  1.432    9  0.247   26 -0.268 P
BUCCANEERS 0 2 46 56 -0.101  0.931   29 -0.103   30 -0.086   20 -0.013   29 0.4098    6  1.448    7  0.267   27 -0.293 P
LIONS      1 1 62 71  0.337  1.275    9  0.055    9  0.048    9  0.063    6 0.5562    3  1.574    3  0.532   28 -0.406 P
COLTS      0 2 53 74  0.380  1.358   26 -0.094   25 -0.052   16  0.001   27 0.4280    4  1.574    4  0.470   29 -0.468 P
PACKERS    1 2 56 91 -0.188  1.375   24 -0.074   23 -0.043   27 -0.093   23 0.4549    5  1.520    5  0.293   30 -0.478 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BILLS      2 0 77 62  0.137  1.047    2  0.090    2  0.130    3  0.125    2 0.6223    2  1.676    1  0.754   31 -0.504 P
PANTHERS   1 1 71 62 -0.154  0.860   22 -0.022   21 -0.013   17 -0.007   21 0.4637    1  1.694    2  0.651   32 -0.665 P

AFC WEST
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRONCOS    1 1 30 44  0.310  1.283   11  0.051   10  0.042   15  0.020   11 0.5338   25  1.075   25 -0.196    8  0.236 P
RAIDERS    2 0 53 27 -0.404  0.635    8  0.060    8  0.060   21 -0.023   12 0.5268   23  1.171   20 -0.120   12  0.075 P
CHIEFS     2 0 64 40 -0.000  0.915    4  0.083    4  0.113    4  0.119    5 0.5908   11  1.348    8  0.258   17 -0.020 P
CHARGERS   0 2 28 52 -0.277  0.812   31 -0.107   31 -0.096   25 -0.082   30 0.3998   16  1.205   21 -0.135   19 -0.029 P

AFC SOUTH
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAGUARS    1 1 47 30 -0.132  0.831   18  0.021   20  0.004   11  0.054   15 0.5031   24  1.164   17 -0.052   10  0.159 P
TEXANS     0 2 37 56  0.226  1.232   27 -0.094   26 -0.056   18 -0.009   24 0.4492   15  1.215   16 -0.050   14  0.031 P
TITANS     0 2 30 47 -0.310  0.818   32 -0.116   32 -0.115   32 -0.135   32 0.3553   17  1.199   26 -0.196   22 -0.074 P
COLTS      0 2 53 74  0.380  1.358   26 -0.094   25 -0.052   16  0.001   27 0.4280    4  1.574    4  0.470   29 -0.468 P

AFC NORTH
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STEELERS   1 1 23 33 -0.066  0.995   16  0.024   17  0.013   22 -0.039   18 0.4914   29  0.982   29 -0.364    6  0.286 P
BENGALS    2 0 53 33 -0.041  0.912    7  0.075    6  0.099   10  0.062    7 0.5530   18  1.193   15 -0.007   11  0.130 P
BROWNS     1 1 33 53  0.045  1.125   19 -0.005   18  0.008   29 -0.101   20 0.4655   20  1.186   23 -0.178   18 -0.023 P
RAVENS     1 1 58 47  0.144  1.070   13  0.033   13  0.035    6  0.104   16 0.5026   10  1.350   10  0.244   21 -0.037 P

AFC EAST
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PATRIOTS   1 1 30 16  0.351  1.196   14  0.030   14  0.033    5  0.104    9 0.5392   32  0.778   31 -0.443    1  0.651 P
JETS       1 1 40 30 -0.514  0.584   25 -0.091   24 -0.046   26 -0.085   28 0.4160   30  0.940   32 -0.458    5  0.288 P
DOLPHINS   0 2 26 62  0.278  1.350   28 -0.099   28 -0.063   28 -0.099   25 0.4373   14  1.239   18 -0.109   23 -0.090 P
BILLS      2 0 77 62  0.137  1.047    2  0.090    2  0.130    3  0.125    2 0.6223    2  1.676    1  0.754   31 -0.504 P

NFC WEST
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SEAHAWKS   2 0 44 17  0.261  1.100    1  0.092    1  0.137    1  0.190    1 0.6334   27  1.003   19 -0.111    2  0.491 P
RAMS       1 1 35 33  0.217  1.094   10  0.053   11  0.038    7  0.099   10 0.5370   28  0.990   27 -0.216    4  0.415 P
49ERS      2 0 62 20  0.112  0.918    3  0.085    3  0.117    2  0.186    3 0.6006   19  1.191   12  0.115    7  0.256 P
CARDINALS  1 1 33 45  0.084  1.127   17  0.022   16  0.017   23 -0.046   17 0.5014   22  1.177   22 -0.135   13  0.044 P

NFC SOUTH
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FALCONS    1 2 51 68 -0.250  1.261   23 -0.062   27 -0.059   31 -0.105   26 0.4342   26  1.028   30 -0.377    9  0.167 P
SAINTS     1 1 54 48  0.390  1.329   12  0.048   12  0.038   12  0.045   13 0.5205   12  1.306   11  0.126   20 -0.036 P
BUCCANEERS 0 2 46 56 -0.101  0.931   29 -0.103   30 -0.086   20 -0.013   29 0.4098    6  1.448    7  0.267   27 -0.293 P
PANTHERS   1 1 71 62 -0.154  0.860   22 -0.022   21 -0.013   17 -0.007   21 0.4637    1  1.694    2  0.651   32 -0.665 P

NFC NORTH
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
VIKINGS    2 0 48 25 -0.040  0.883    5  0.080    5  0.105    8  0.095    4 0.5949   31  0.933   28 -0.287    3  0.476 P
BEARS      1 1 62 46  0.183  1.152   15  0.025   15  0.023   14  0.027   14 0.5125    8  1.430    6  0.281   24 -0.227 P
LIONS      1 1 62 71  0.337  1.275    9  0.055    9  0.048    9  0.063    6 0.5562    3  1.574    3  0.532   28 -0.406 P
PACKERS    1 2 56 91 -0.188  1.375   24 -0.074   23 -0.043   27 -0.093   23 0.4549    5  1.520    5  0.293   30 -0.478 P

NFC EAST
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
EAGLES     2 0 48 42 -0.414  0.607    6  0.076    7  0.089   13  0.033    8 0.5393   13  1.270   14  0.064   15  0.001 P
GIANTS     1 1 34 48  0.020  1.105   20 -0.006   19  0.005   30 -0.102   19 0.4783   21  1.180   24 -0.188   16 -0.016 P
COMMANDERS 0 2 42 61  0.011  1.074   30 -0.107   29 -0.086   24 -0.082   31 0.3966    9  1.371   13  0.088   25 -0.251 P
COWBOYS    1 1 57 48 -0.365  0.674   21 -0.022   22 -0.017   19 -0.011   22 0.4585    7  1.432    9  0.247   26 -0.268 P

DIVISION   W L   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   6 2 0.750    1  0.468
NFC NORTH  5 4 0.556    2  0.085
AFC EAST   4 4 0.500    3  0.038
AFC WEST   5 3 0.625    4  0.006
AFC NORTH  5 3 0.625    5  0.001
NFC SOUTH  3 6 0.333    6 -0.103
AFC SOUTH  1 7 0.125    7 -0.138
NFC EAST   4 4 0.500    8 -0.215

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.100 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: Fri Sep 25 05:30:20 2026
games through: Thu Sep 24 2026

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