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  3  0 334 210  0.299  6.870    1  0.445    1  0.462    1  0.562    1 0.6078   19  1.274    4  0.558    2  0.566
SEAHAWKS    9  3  0 350 217  0.191  6.213    4  0.396    4  0.400    2  0.498    3 0.5769   11  1.348    2  0.595    4  0.402
TEXANS      7  5  0 263 198  0.348  7.154    8  0.263    8  0.261    3  0.358    8 0.5598   32  0.955   19 -0.039    1  0.755
CHIEFS      6  6  0 305 232  0.113  6.224   17  0.058   17  0.031    4  0.287   18 0.5039   22  1.158   13  0.132    3  0.442
49ERS       9  4  0 307 269  0.255  7.446    3  0.402    3  0.416    5  0.278    4 0.5719   18  1.276    8  0.278    7  0.279
JAGUARS     8  4  0 292 253  0.228  6.759    6  0.328    5  0.327    6  0.276    7 0.5661   13  1.327    7  0.344    9  0.208
COLTS       8  4  0 357 249  0.069  5.777   10  0.229   10  0.229    7  0.274   13 0.5380    3  1.494    3  0.581   16 -0.033
BILLS       8  4  0 337 259 -0.026  5.642   13  0.201   13  0.198    8  0.242   12 0.5441    4  1.493    5  0.547   17 -0.062
PATRIOTS   11  2  0 351 241 -0.304  4.722    5  0.331    6  0.321    9  0.162    6 0.5678   14  1.311   11  0.207   10  0.116
BRONCOS    10  2  0 284 218 -0.051  5.460    2  0.434    2  0.447   10  0.154    2 0.5842   25  1.118   20 -0.050    5  0.359
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PACKERS     8  3  1 294 226 -0.114  5.299   12  0.213   12  0.210   11  0.150   11 0.5464   23  1.154   17 -0.009    6  0.310
LIONS       7  5  0 350 274 -0.053  5.562   16  0.076   16  0.065   12  0.109   15 0.5195    6  1.490    6  0.410   25 -0.191
EAGLES      8  4  0 270 249  0.102  6.409    7  0.283    7  0.279   13  0.088    5 0.5694   24  1.134   23 -0.097    8  0.273
BUCCANEERS  7  5  0 279 301  0.239  7.102    9  0.248    9  0.256   14  0.052   10 0.5500    8  1.414    9  0.242   21 -0.137
COWBOYS     6  5  1 351 342 -0.071  5.712   18  0.039   18  0.025   15  0.004   17 0.5079    1  1.744    1  0.704   31 -0.696
CARDINALS   3  9  0 265 303  0.193  6.990   24 -0.285   23 -0.269   16  0.004   24 0.4437   12  1.335   15  0.083   18 -0.076
CHARGERS    8  4  0 277 252 -0.172  5.187   14  0.152   14  0.145   17 -0.027   14 0.5226   17  1.277   18 -0.027   15 -0.027
BEARS       9  3  0 313 307 -0.257  4.863   11  0.224   11  0.220   18 -0.062    9 0.5519    5  1.492   10  0.241   29 -0.365
RAVENS      6  6  0 289 293 -0.093  5.656   20 -0.034   20 -0.054   19 -0.067   20 0.4866    9  1.407   14  0.112   26 -0.246
STEELERS    6  6  0 281 289 -0.095  5.669   19 -0.021   19 -0.038   20 -0.100   19 0.5010   15  1.308   21 -0.058   23 -0.142
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS    7  6  0 247 297  0.029  6.883   15  0.095   15  0.089   21 -0.107   16 0.5158   26  1.117   27 -0.314   11  0.099
FALCONS     4  8  0 243 276 -0.095  5.733   22 -0.266   25 -0.275   22 -0.127   25 0.4421   21  1.200   25 -0.227   14 -0.026
DOLPHINS    5  7  0 247 286 -0.149  5.559   21 -0.169   21 -0.177   23 -0.179   22 0.4546   20  1.243   24 -0.224   20 -0.133
GIANTS      2 11  0 279 367  0.098  7.290   30 -0.449   30 -0.445   24 -0.189   28 0.4150    7  1.417   16  0.005   30 -0.383
COMMANDERS  3  9  0 262 323 -0.045  6.065   26 -0.370   26 -0.363   25 -0.206   26 0.4167   10  1.359   22 -0.094   27 -0.318
BENGALS     4  8  0 280 374 -0.135  5.767   25 -0.288   24 -0.275   26 -0.301   23 0.4528    2  1.604   12  0.174   32 -0.776
JETS        3  9  0 246 315 -0.182  5.492   27 -0.426   27 -0.425   27 -0.312   27 0.4160   16  1.289   26 -0.295   28 -0.328
SAINTS      2 10  0 182 295  0.021  6.596   28 -0.438   28 -0.435   28 -0.318   29 0.4088   30  0.967   30 -0.702   13  0.065
VIKINGS     4  8  0 224 281 -0.126  5.812   23 -0.280   22 -0.267   29 -0.320   21 0.4549   27  1.091   28 -0.557   19 -0.083
BROWNS      3  9  0 194 270 -0.221  5.361   29 -0.441   29 -0.441   30 -0.321   30 0.4059   31  0.964   31 -0.707   12  0.066
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TITANS      1 11  0 170 328  0.204  7.600   31 -0.469   31 -0.466   31 -0.379   31 0.3960   28  1.090   29 -0.618   22 -0.140
RAIDERS     2 10  0 179 308 -0.125  6.130   32 -0.482   32 -0.486   32 -0.478   32 0.3957   29  1.012   32 -0.809   24 -0.147

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  0.113  6.224   17  0.058   17  0.031    4  0.287   18 0.5039   22  1.158   13  0.132    3  0.442
BRONCOS    10  2  0 284 218 -0.051  5.460    2  0.434    2  0.447   10  0.154    2 0.5842   25  1.118   20 -0.050    5  0.359
CHARGERS    8  4  0 277 252 -0.172  5.187   14  0.152   14  0.145   17 -0.027   14 0.5226   17  1.277   18 -0.027   15 -0.027
RAIDERS     2 10  0 179 308 -0.125  6.130   32 -0.482   32 -0.486   32 -0.478   32 0.3957   29  1.012   32 -0.809   24 -0.147

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      7  5  0 263 198  0.348  7.154    8  0.263    8  0.261    3  0.358    8 0.5598   32  0.955   19 -0.039    1  0.755
JAGUARS     8  4  0 292 253  0.228  6.759    6  0.328    5  0.327    6  0.276    7 0.5661   13  1.327    7  0.344    9  0.208
COLTS       8  4  0 357 249  0.069  5.777   10  0.229   10  0.229    7  0.274   13 0.5380    3  1.494    3  0.581   16 -0.033
TITANS      1 11  0 170 328  0.204  7.600   31 -0.469   31 -0.466   31 -0.379   31 0.3960   28  1.090   29 -0.618   22 -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  6  0 289 293 -0.093  5.656   20 -0.034   20 -0.054   19 -0.067   20 0.4866    9  1.407   14  0.112   26 -0.246
STEELERS    6  6  0 281 289 -0.095  5.669   19 -0.021   19 -0.038   20 -0.100   19 0.5010   15  1.308   21 -0.058   23 -0.142
BENGALS     4  8  0 280 374 -0.135  5.767   25 -0.288   24 -0.275   26 -0.301   23 0.4528    2  1.604   12  0.174   32 -0.776
BROWNS      3  9  0 194 270 -0.221  5.361   29 -0.441   29 -0.441   30 -0.321   30 0.4059   31  0.964   31 -0.707   12  0.066

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       8  4  0 337 259 -0.026  5.642   13  0.201   13  0.198    8  0.242   12 0.5441    4  1.493    5  0.547   17 -0.062
PATRIOTS   11  2  0 351 241 -0.304  4.722    5  0.331    6  0.321    9  0.162    6 0.5678   14  1.311   11  0.207   10  0.116
DOLPHINS    5  7  0 247 286 -0.149  5.559   21 -0.169   21 -0.177   23 -0.179   22 0.4546   20  1.243   24 -0.224   20 -0.133
JETS        3  9  0 246 315 -0.182  5.492   27 -0.426   27 -0.425   27 -0.312   27 0.4160   16  1.289   26 -0.295   28 -0.328

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  3  0 334 210  0.299  6.870    1  0.445    1  0.462    1  0.562    1 0.6078   19  1.274    4  0.558    2  0.566
SEAHAWKS    9  3  0 350 217  0.191  6.213    4  0.396    4  0.400    2  0.498    3 0.5769   11  1.348    2  0.595    4  0.402
49ERS       9  4  0 307 269  0.255  7.446    3  0.402    3  0.416    5  0.278    4 0.5719   18  1.276    8  0.278    7  0.279
CARDINALS   3  9  0 265 303  0.193  6.990   24 -0.285   23 -0.269   16  0.004   24 0.4437   12  1.335   15  0.083   18 -0.076

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  7  5  0 279 301  0.239  7.102    9  0.248    9  0.256   14  0.052   10 0.5500    8  1.414    9  0.242   21 -0.137
PANTHERS    7  6  0 247 297  0.029  6.883   15  0.095   15  0.089   21 -0.107   16 0.5158   26  1.117   27 -0.314   11  0.099
FALCONS     4  8  0 243 276 -0.095  5.733   22 -0.266   25 -0.275   22 -0.127   25 0.4421   21  1.200   25 -0.227   14 -0.026
SAINTS      2 10  0 182 295  0.021  6.596   28 -0.438   28 -0.435   28 -0.318   29 0.4088   30  0.967   30 -0.702   13  0.065

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
PACKERS     8  3  1 294 226 -0.114  5.299   12  0.213   12  0.210   11  0.150   11 0.5464   23  1.154   17 -0.009    6  0.310
LIONS       7  5  0 350 274 -0.053  5.562   16  0.076   16  0.065   12  0.109   15 0.5195    6  1.490    6  0.410   25 -0.191
BEARS       9  3  0 313 307 -0.257  4.863   11  0.224   11  0.220   18 -0.062    9 0.5519    5  1.492   10  0.241   29 -0.365
VIKINGS     4  8  0 224 281 -0.126  5.812   23 -0.280   22 -0.267   29 -0.320   21 0.4549   27  1.091   28 -0.557   19 -0.083

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  4  0 270 249  0.102  6.409    7  0.283    7  0.279   13  0.088    5 0.5694   24  1.134   23 -0.097    8  0.273
COWBOYS     6  5  1 351 342 -0.071  5.712   18  0.039   18  0.025   15  0.004   17 0.5079    1  1.744    1  0.704   31 -0.696
GIANTS      2 11  0 279 367  0.098  7.290   30 -0.449   30 -0.445   24 -0.189   28 0.4150    7  1.417   16  0.005   30 -0.383
COMMANDERS  3  9  0 262 323 -0.045  6.065   26 -0.370   26 -0.363   25 -0.206   26 0.4167   10  1.359   22 -0.094   27 -0.318

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   30 19  0 0.612    1  0.601
AFC SOUTH  24 24  0 0.500    2  0.284
AFC WEST   26 22  0 0.542    3  0.014
NFC NORTH  28 19  1 0.594    4 -0.042
AFC EAST   27 22  0 0.551    5 -0.088
NFC EAST   19 29  1 0.398    6 -0.124
NFC SOUTH  20 29  0 0.408    7 -0.220
AFC NORTH  19 29  0 0.396    8 -0.374

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.184 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 Dec  2 05:30:11 2025
games through: Mon Dec  1 2025

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