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   14  3  0 483 292  0.241  9.296    1  0.661    1  0.651    1  0.649    1 0.6215   21  1.227    2  0.577    1  0.721
RAMS       13  5  0 552 377  0.262 10.152    2  0.525    3  0.505    2  0.534    2 0.5934    5  1.497    1  0.838    8  0.230
49ERS      13  5  0 460 390  0.223 10.155    3  0.510    2  0.526    6  0.285    3 0.5882   12  1.352    8  0.381   11  0.189
TEXANS     12  5  0 404 295  0.239  9.489    5  0.457    5  0.460    5  0.353    4 0.5824   27  1.064   13  0.077    2  0.629
PATRIOTS   15  3  0 506 323 -0.233  6.953    7  0.409    7  0.402    4  0.358    5 0.5798   16  1.293   10  0.373    6  0.342
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.158  9.452    6  0.449    6  0.451    3  0.444    6 0.5794   14  1.343    4  0.528    5  0.361
BRONCOS    14  3  0 401 311 -0.105  7.509    4  0.484    4  0.494    8  0.180    7 0.5759   23  1.159   16  0.020    7  0.339
BILLS      13  5  0 508 389 -0.042  8.341    8  0.346    8  0.341    7  0.260    8 0.5673    6  1.493    3  0.559   18 -0.038
BEARS      12  6  0 472 442 -0.088  8.370    9  0.239    9  0.229   12  0.085    9 0.5361    7  1.486    9  0.374   21 -0.204
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.030  8.869   11  0.176   11  0.169   17 -0.031   10 0.5270   24  1.109   23 -0.253   10  0.190
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  0.002  8.911   10  0.189   10  0.178   10  0.113   11 0.5261   28  1.053   21 -0.176    4  0.402
STEELERS   10  7  0 397 387 -0.035  8.325   12  0.133   12  0.127   16 -0.017   12 0.5259   15  1.296   17  0.002   17 -0.036
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.178  9.325   15  0.037   14  0.028    9  0.150   13 0.5089    3  1.525    6  0.497   20 -0.196
BUCCANEERS  8  9  0 380 411  0.049  8.959   17  0.013   17  0.003   20 -0.087   14 0.5060   11  1.372   14  0.036   23 -0.211
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.032  8.338   14  0.038   15  0.027   14  0.069   15 0.5040   31  0.985   24 -0.300    3  0.439
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.044  8.706   16  0.022   16  0.010   15 -0.012   16 0.5006   22  1.225   18 -0.088   15  0.063
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413  0.000  8.401   13  0.049   13  0.037   13  0.070   17 0.5004    4  1.516    7  0.403   26 -0.263
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.046  9.643   18 -0.045   18 -0.049   21 -0.106   18 0.4975   25  1.086   27 -0.355   13  0.143
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.014  8.652   19 -0.056   19 -0.052   19 -0.083   19 0.4961   20  1.244   20 -0.133   16 -0.034
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.019  8.336   20 -0.076   20 -0.074   11  0.106   20 0.4881    8  1.393   11  0.260   19 -0.048
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.162  7.868   22 -0.225   22 -0.230   28 -0.292   21 0.4649   18  1.258   26 -0.323   25 -0.260
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.065  8.477   24 -0.269   24 -0.275   23 -0.160   22 0.4579   29  1.031   29 -0.476   12  0.156
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.158  7.675   21 -0.185   21 -0.188   25 -0.227   23 0.4530    1  1.763    5  0.499   32 -0.953
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.083  8.366   25 -0.278   25 -0.284   24 -0.194   24 0.4508    2  1.581   12  0.239   30 -0.626
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.017  8.343   23 -0.267   23 -0.273   18 -0.045   25 0.4459   26  1.076   25 -0.307    9  0.216
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.173 10.077   28 -0.445   29 -0.457   26 -0.233   26 0.4256   10  1.376   19 -0.104   28 -0.362
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.169  7.866   27 -0.424   27 -0.438   29 -0.314   27 0.4245   32  0.924   31 -0.752   14  0.123
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.077  8.373   26 -0.363   26 -0.372   27 -0.283   28 0.4217   13  1.347   22 -0.194   29 -0.372
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.130 10.119   29 -0.452   28 -0.457   30 -0.361   29 0.4189   19  1.253   28 -0.400   27 -0.323
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.057  8.374   30 -0.470   30 -0.478   22 -0.114   30 0.4072    9  1.381   15  0.022   24 -0.251
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.139  8.409   32 -0.614   32 -0.606   32 -0.646   31 0.4025   17  1.277   30 -0.652   31 -0.640
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.079  8.835   31 -0.567   31 -0.553   31 -0.537   32 0.3932   30  1.019   32 -0.866   22 -0.208

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    14  3  0 401 311 -0.105  7.509    4  0.484    4  0.494    8  0.180    7 0.5759   23  1.159   16  0.020    7  0.339
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.030  8.869   11  0.176   11  0.169   17 -0.031   10 0.5270   24  1.109   23 -0.253   10  0.190
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.017  8.343   23 -0.267   23 -0.273   18 -0.045   25 0.4459   26  1.076   25 -0.307    9  0.216
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.079  8.835   31 -0.567   31 -0.553   31 -0.537   32 0.3932   30  1.019   32 -0.866   22 -0.208

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     12  5  0 404 295  0.239  9.489    5  0.457    5  0.460    5  0.353    4 0.5824   27  1.064   13  0.077    2  0.629
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.158  9.452    6  0.449    6  0.451    3  0.444    6 0.5794   14  1.343    4  0.528    5  0.361
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.178  9.325   15  0.037   14  0.028    9  0.150   13 0.5089    3  1.525    6  0.497   20 -0.196
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.130 10.119   29 -0.452   28 -0.457   30 -0.361   29 0.4189   19  1.253   28 -0.400   27 -0.323

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  7  0 397 387 -0.035  8.325   12  0.133   12  0.127   16 -0.017   12 0.5259   15  1.296   17  0.002   17 -0.036
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.019  8.336   20 -0.076   20 -0.074   11  0.106   20 0.4881    8  1.393   11  0.260   19 -0.048
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.083  8.366   25 -0.278   25 -0.284   24 -0.194   24 0.4508    2  1.581   12  0.239   30 -0.626
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.169  7.866   27 -0.424   27 -0.438   29 -0.314   27 0.4245   32  0.924   31 -0.752   14  0.123

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   15  3  0 506 323 -0.233  6.953    7  0.409    7  0.402    4  0.358    5 0.5798   16  1.293   10  0.373    6  0.342
BILLS      13  5  0 508 389 -0.042  8.341    8  0.346    8  0.341    7  0.260    8 0.5673    6  1.493    3  0.559   18 -0.038
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.162  7.868   22 -0.225   22 -0.230   28 -0.292   21 0.4649   18  1.258   26 -0.323   25 -0.260
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.139  8.409   32 -0.614   32 -0.606   32 -0.646   31 0.4025   17  1.277   30 -0.652   31 -0.640

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   14  3  0 483 292  0.241  9.296    1  0.661    1  0.651    1  0.649    1 0.6215   21  1.227    2  0.577    1  0.721
RAMS       13  5  0 552 377  0.262 10.152    2  0.525    3  0.505    2  0.534    2 0.5934    5  1.497    1  0.838    8  0.230
49ERS      13  5  0 460 390  0.223 10.155    3  0.510    2  0.526    6  0.285    3 0.5882   12  1.352    8  0.381   11  0.189
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.173 10.077   28 -0.445   29 -0.457   26 -0.233   26 0.4256   10  1.376   19 -0.104   28 -0.362

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  0.049  8.959   17  0.013   17  0.003   20 -0.087   14 0.5060   11  1.372   14  0.036   23 -0.211
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.046  9.643   18 -0.045   18 -0.049   21 -0.106   18 0.4975   25  1.086   27 -0.355   13  0.143
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.014  8.652   19 -0.056   19 -0.052   19 -0.083   19 0.4961   20  1.244   20 -0.133   16 -0.034
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.065  8.477   24 -0.269   24 -0.275   23 -0.160   22 0.4579   29  1.031   29 -0.476   12  0.156

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  6  0 472 442 -0.088  8.370    9  0.239    9  0.229   12  0.085    9 0.5361    7  1.486    9  0.374   21 -0.204
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.032  8.338   14  0.038   15  0.027   14  0.069   15 0.5040   31  0.985   24 -0.300    3  0.439
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.044  8.706   16  0.022   16  0.010   15 -0.012   16 0.5006   22  1.225   18 -0.088   15  0.063
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413  0.000  8.401   13  0.049   13  0.037   13  0.070   17 0.5004    4  1.516    7  0.403   26 -0.263

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  0.002  8.911   10  0.189   10  0.178   10  0.113   11 0.5261   28  1.053   21 -0.176    4  0.402
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.158  7.675   21 -0.185   21 -0.188   25 -0.227   23 0.4530    1  1.763    5  0.499   32 -0.953
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.077  8.373   26 -0.363   26 -0.372   27 -0.283   28 0.4217   13  1.347   22 -0.194   29 -0.372
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.057  8.374   30 -0.470   30 -0.478   22 -0.114   30 0.4072    9  1.381   15  0.022   24 -0.251

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   43 27  0 0.614    1  0.539
AFC SOUTH  36 33  0 0.522    2  0.268
NFC NORTH  39 30  1 0.564    3  0.078
AFC WEST   34 35  0 0.493    4 -0.106
AFC EAST   38 32  0 0.543    5 -0.139
NFC SOUTH  30 39  0 0.435    6 -0.194
NFC EAST   27 41  1 0.399    7 -0.207
AFC NORTH  29 39  0 0.426    8 -0.221

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.169 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 12 05:30:19 2026
games through: Sun Jan 11 2026

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