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
COWBOYS     6  5  1 351 342 -0.069  5.730   17  0.042   17  0.024   15  0.004   17 0.5055    1  1.756    1  0.713   31 -0.704
COLTS       8  3  0 341 229  0.075  5.229    7  0.269    6  0.273    3  0.280    8 0.5574    4  1.513    2  0.604   17 -0.044
SEAHAWKS    8  3  0 324 217  0.212  5.907    3  0.331    4  0.335    2  0.378    3 0.5778    9  1.412    3  0.555    7  0.202
BILLS       7  4  0 311 252 -0.091  4.966   14  0.128   14  0.113   11  0.114   13 0.5239    3  1.559    4  0.507   28 -0.280
RAMS        9  2  0 306 179  0.304  6.279    1  0.472    1  0.488    1  0.557    1 0.6308   21  1.175    5  0.414    1  0.701
LIONS       7  5  0 350 274 -0.024  5.704   15  0.091   15  0.074   10  0.118   15 0.5198    5  1.484    6  0.400   23 -0.163
JAGUARS     7  4  0 267 250  0.231  6.343    8  0.253    8  0.258    8  0.166    7 0.5629   11  1.392    7  0.313   14  0.019
BUCCANEERS  6  5  0 259 284  0.233  6.521   11  0.172   11  0.176   14  0.027   12 0.5446    7  1.451    8  0.260   24 -0.206
BEARS       9  3  0 313 307 -0.212  5.069    9  0.227    9  0.224   19 -0.035    9 0.5547    6  1.480    9  0.241   29 -0.310
49ERS       8  4  0 281 261  0.256  6.961    4  0.330    3  0.342    6  0.193    4 0.5726   16  1.302   10  0.216    8  0.171
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BENGALS     4  8  0 280 374 -0.096  5.954   25 -0.251   25 -0.238   28 -0.263   23 0.4529    2  1.590   11  0.178   32 -0.705
PATRIOTS   10  2  0 318 226 -0.304  4.402    5  0.270    7  0.267   12  0.109    6 0.5647   15  1.313   12  0.147   12  0.071
RAVENS      6  6  0 289 293 -0.076  5.735   20 -0.021   20 -0.042   20 -0.053   20 0.4834   10  1.407   13  0.116   25 -0.222
STEELERS    6  5  0 274 263 -0.078  5.184   18  0.039   18  0.021   16  0.004   16 0.5143   12  1.363   14  0.110   19 -0.103
CHIEFS      6  6  0 305 232  0.111  6.248   16  0.062   16  0.031    5  0.270   18 0.5037   24  1.155   15  0.100    3  0.440
GIANTS      2 10  0 264 334  0.086  6.666   29 -0.383   29 -0.381   22 -0.129   28 0.4155    8  1.432   16  0.077   30 -0.334
CARDINALS   3  8  0 248 283  0.133  6.190   24 -0.243   24 -0.229   17 -0.024   24 0.4483   13  1.356   17  0.072   22 -0.120
PACKERS     8  3  1 294 226 -0.087  5.426   10  0.207   10  0.204    9  0.155   10 0.5466   25  1.151   18 -0.019    5  0.330
CHARGERS    7  4  0 246 238 -0.079  5.191   13  0.143   13  0.129   18 -0.028   14 0.5233   18  1.254   19 -0.070   15  0.014
BRONCOS     9  2  0 257 192 -0.016  5.099    2  0.373    2  0.379    7  0.169    2 0.5820   27  1.081   20 -0.091    4  0.430
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
EAGLES      8  4  0 270 249  0.139  6.584    6  0.269    5  0.275   13  0.101    5 0.5710   26  1.134   21 -0.095    6  0.297
TEXANS      6  5  0 243 182  0.268  6.272   12  0.152   12  0.143    4  0.274   11 0.5447   32  0.959   22 -0.130    2  0.677
COMMANDERS  3  8  0 236 296 -0.056  5.547   26 -0.302   26 -0.292   26 -0.212   26 0.4186   14  1.331   23 -0.149   27 -0.274
DOLPHINS    4  7  0 226 269 -0.135  5.177   21 -0.204   22 -0.214   23 -0.169   25 0.4401   19  1.238   24 -0.231   20 -0.107
FALCONS     4  7  0 219 249 -0.115  5.192   22 -0.212   23 -0.216   21 -0.113   22 0.4532   22  1.170   25 -0.264   13  0.038
JETS        2  9  0 219 291 -0.169  5.132   32 -0.443   32 -0.450   30 -0.301   32 0.3947   17  1.258   26 -0.336   26 -0.265
VIKINGS     4  7  0 224 255 -0.140  5.136   23 -0.225   21 -0.212   25 -0.211   21 0.4601   20  1.178   27 -0.350   18 -0.071
TITANS      1 10  0 167 303  0.214  7.001   30 -0.394   30 -0.392   29 -0.269   30 0.4008   23  1.165   28 -0.425   21 -0.112
PANTHERS    6  6  0 216 269 -0.087  5.877   19 -0.008   19 -0.029   24 -0.194   19 0.4932   28  1.045   29 -0.498   10  0.109
BROWNS      3  8  0 186 244 -0.221  4.871   27 -0.366   27 -0.363   27 -0.229   29 0.4055   30  0.989   30 -0.599    9  0.140
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SAINTS      2  9  0 165 274 -0.002  6.002   28 -0.373   28 -0.368   31 -0.302   27 0.4175   31  0.963   31 -0.701   11  0.096
RAIDERS     2  9  0 165 277 -0.122  5.613   31 -0.404   31 -0.407   32 -0.398   31 0.3993   29  0.993   32 -0.762   16 -0.033

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
CHIEFS      6  6  0 305 232  0.111  6.248   16  0.062   16  0.031    5  0.270   18 0.5037   24  1.155   15  0.100    3  0.440
CHARGERS    7  4  0 246 238 -0.079  5.191   13  0.143   13  0.129   18 -0.028   14 0.5233   18  1.254   19 -0.070   15  0.014
BRONCOS     9  2  0 257 192 -0.016  5.099    2  0.373    2  0.379    7  0.169    2 0.5820   27  1.081   20 -0.091    4  0.430
RAIDERS     2  9  0 165 277 -0.122  5.613   31 -0.404   31 -0.407   32 -0.398   31 0.3993   29  0.993   32 -0.762   16 -0.033

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  0.075  5.229    7  0.269    6  0.273    3  0.280    8 0.5574    4  1.513    2  0.604   17 -0.044
JAGUARS     7  4  0 267 250  0.231  6.343    8  0.253    8  0.258    8  0.166    7 0.5629   11  1.392    7  0.313   14  0.019
TEXANS      6  5  0 243 182  0.268  6.272   12  0.152   12  0.143    4  0.274   11 0.5447   32  0.959   22 -0.130    2  0.677
TITANS      1 10  0 167 303  0.214  7.001   30 -0.394   30 -0.392   29 -0.269   30 0.4008   23  1.165   28 -0.425   21 -0.112

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
BENGALS     4  8  0 280 374 -0.096  5.954   25 -0.251   25 -0.238   28 -0.263   23 0.4529    2  1.590   11  0.178   32 -0.705
RAVENS      6  6  0 289 293 -0.076  5.735   20 -0.021   20 -0.042   20 -0.053   20 0.4834   10  1.407   13  0.116   25 -0.222
STEELERS    6  5  0 274 263 -0.078  5.184   18  0.039   18  0.021   16  0.004   16 0.5143   12  1.363   14  0.110   19 -0.103
BROWNS      3  8  0 186 244 -0.221  4.871   27 -0.366   27 -0.363   27 -0.229   29 0.4055   30  0.989   30 -0.599    9  0.140

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
BILLS       7  4  0 311 252 -0.091  4.966   14  0.128   14  0.113   11  0.114   13 0.5239    3  1.559    4  0.507   28 -0.280
PATRIOTS   10  2  0 318 226 -0.304  4.402    5  0.270    7  0.267   12  0.109    6 0.5647   15  1.313   12  0.147   12  0.071
DOLPHINS    4  7  0 226 269 -0.135  5.177   21 -0.204   22 -0.214   23 -0.169   25 0.4401   19  1.238   24 -0.231   20 -0.107
JETS        2  9  0 219 291 -0.169  5.132   32 -0.443   32 -0.450   30 -0.301   32 0.3947   17  1.258   26 -0.336   26 -0.265

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    8  3  0 324 217  0.212  5.907    3  0.331    4  0.335    2  0.378    3 0.5778    9  1.412    3  0.555    7  0.202
RAMS        9  2  0 306 179  0.304  6.279    1  0.472    1  0.488    1  0.557    1 0.6308   21  1.175    5  0.414    1  0.701
49ERS       8  4  0 281 261  0.256  6.961    4  0.330    3  0.342    6  0.193    4 0.5726   16  1.302   10  0.216    8  0.171
CARDINALS   3  8  0 248 283  0.133  6.190   24 -0.243   24 -0.229   17 -0.024   24 0.4483   13  1.356   17  0.072   22 -0.120

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  0.233  6.521   11  0.172   11  0.176   14  0.027   12 0.5446    7  1.451    8  0.260   24 -0.206
FALCONS     4  7  0 219 249 -0.115  5.192   22 -0.212   23 -0.216   21 -0.113   22 0.4532   22  1.170   25 -0.264   13  0.038
PANTHERS    6  6  0 216 269 -0.087  5.877   19 -0.008   19 -0.029   24 -0.194   19 0.4932   28  1.045   29 -0.498   10  0.109
SAINTS      2  9  0 165 274 -0.002  6.002   28 -0.373   28 -0.368   31 -0.302   27 0.4175   31  0.963   31 -0.701   11  0.096

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
LIONS       7  5  0 350 274 -0.024  5.704   15  0.091   15  0.074   10  0.118   15 0.5198    5  1.484    6  0.400   23 -0.163
BEARS       9  3  0 313 307 -0.212  5.069    9  0.227    9  0.224   19 -0.035    9 0.5547    6  1.480    9  0.241   29 -0.310
PACKERS     8  3  1 294 226 -0.087  5.426   10  0.207   10  0.204    9  0.155   10 0.5466   25  1.151   18 -0.019    5  0.330
VIKINGS     4  7  0 224 255 -0.140  5.136   23 -0.225   21 -0.212   25 -0.211   21 0.4601   20  1.178   27 -0.350   18 -0.071

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
COWBOYS     6  5  1 351 342 -0.069  5.730   17  0.042   17  0.024   15  0.004   17 0.5055    1  1.756    1  0.713   31 -0.704
GIANTS      2 10  0 264 334  0.086  6.666   29 -0.383   29 -0.381   22 -0.129   28 0.4155    8  1.432   16  0.077   30 -0.334
EAGLES      8  4  0 270 249  0.139  6.584    6  0.269    5  0.275   13  0.101    5 0.5710   26  1.134   21 -0.095    6  0.297
COMMANDERS  3  8  0 236 296 -0.056  5.547   26 -0.302   26 -0.292   26 -0.212   26 0.4186   14  1.331   23 -0.149   27 -0.274

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   28 17  0 0.622    1  0.561
AFC SOUTH  22 22  0 0.500    2  0.270
AFC WEST   24 21  0 0.533    3  0.042
NFC NORTH  28 18  1 0.606    4  0.013
NFC EAST   19 27  1 0.415    5 -0.109
AFC EAST   23 22  0 0.511    6 -0.159
NFC SOUTH  18 27  0 0.400    7 -0.284
AFC NORTH  19 27  0 0.413    8 -0.304

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.181 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: Sat Nov 29 05:30:11 2025
games through: Fri Nov 28 2025

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