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     7  9  1 471 511 -0.172  7.704   21 -0.189   21 -0.206   25 -0.223   23 0.4494    1  1.765    4  0.509   32 -0.955
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.107  8.325   25 -0.289   25 -0.311   24 -0.198   24 0.4464    2  1.586   11  0.245   31 -0.641
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.164  9.328   15  0.029   14  0.014    9  0.126   13 0.5075    3  1.528    6  0.481   23 -0.228
BILLS      13  6  0 538 422 -0.030  9.033    8  0.304    8  0.289    6  0.231    8 0.5578    4  1.525    3  0.581   19 -0.119
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413 -0.018  8.398   13  0.040   13  0.021   14  0.047   17 0.4958    5  1.521    7  0.391   26 -0.297
RAMS       14  6  0 599 425  0.311 11.705    2  0.566    2  0.521    2  0.508    2 0.5939    6  1.476    1  0.785    8  0.231
BEARS      12  7  0 489 462 -0.070  9.096    9  0.200    9  0.182   11  0.085    9 0.5255    7  1.444    8  0.316   20 -0.146
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.042  8.303   20 -0.085   20 -0.095   12  0.076   20 0.4837    8  1.398   12  0.240   17 -0.088
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.073  8.384   30 -0.479   30 -0.504   22 -0.120   30 0.4039    9  1.386   15  0.026   25 -0.267
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.161 10.106   28 -0.453   29 -0.481   26 -0.226   26 0.4258   10  1.376   18 -0.093   28 -0.359
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  0.040  9.002   16  0.013   16 -0.004   19 -0.091   14 0.5055   11  1.373   14  0.037   22 -0.220
49ERS      13  6  0 466 431  0.258 11.157    3  0.515    3  0.508    7  0.173    4 0.5831   12  1.350   10  0.270   14  0.076
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.087  8.428   26 -0.367   26 -0.392   27 -0.272   28 0.4191   13  1.347   21 -0.179   29 -0.365
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.149  9.494    7  0.453    7  0.449    3  0.398    6 0.5779   14  1.341    5  0.483    7  0.313
STEELERS   10  8  0 403 417 -0.030  9.064   12  0.092   12  0.081   21 -0.109   12 0.5163   15  1.282   19 -0.106   18 -0.113
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.157  8.416   32 -0.628   32 -0.637   32 -0.608   31 0.3999   16  1.279   30 -0.608   30 -0.609
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.178  7.880   22 -0.232   22 -0.250   28 -0.284   21 0.4624   17  1.259   24 -0.311   24 -0.258
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.121 10.172   29 -0.459   28 -0.479   30 -0.344   29 0.4183   18  1.258   28 -0.372   27 -0.315
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.023  8.705   19 -0.055   19 -0.064   18 -0.086   18 0.4957   19  1.244   20 -0.132   16 -0.041
PATRIOTS   17  4  0 557 375 -0.104  9.180    4  0.484    5  0.468    5  0.361    3 0.5871   20  1.238    9  0.307    4  0.415
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SEAHAWKS   17  3  0 584 338  0.272 11.299    1  0.821    1  0.774    1  0.776    1 0.6383   21  1.234    2  0.717    1  0.835
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.061  8.712   17  0.012   17 -0.006   15 -0.026   19 0.4957   22  1.231   17 -0.090   15  0.037
BRONCOS    15  4  0 441 351 -0.083  8.743    5  0.471    4  0.471    8  0.146    7 0.5713   23  1.131   16 -0.045    6  0.338
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.045  8.881   11  0.171   11  0.157   16 -0.043   10 0.5242   24  1.113   23 -0.256   10  0.170
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.036  9.691   18 -0.045   18 -0.062   20 -0.109   16 0.4971   25  1.088   27 -0.354   12  0.135
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.031  8.362   24 -0.273   24 -0.293   17 -0.056   25 0.4424   26  1.075   26 -0.316    9  0.204
TEXANS     13  6  0 450 329  0.246 10.784    6  0.456    6  0.450    4  0.368    5 0.5795   27  1.058   13  0.088    2  0.647
EAGLES     11  7  0 398 348 -0.017  8.908   10  0.181   10  0.165   10  0.086   11 0.5222   28  1.054   22 -0.198    5  0.371
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.075  8.524   23 -0.272   23 -0.293   23 -0.158   22 0.4572   29  1.032   29 -0.469   11  0.152
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.092  8.871   31 -0.574   31 -0.577   31 -0.507   32 0.3902   30  1.027   32 -0.823   21 -0.190
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.047  8.350   14  0.030   15  0.012   13  0.051   15 0.5003   31  0.986   25 -0.314    3  0.416
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.197  7.800   27 -0.439   27 -0.470   29 -0.312   27 0.4200   32  0.926   31 -0.745   13  0.120

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    15  4  0 441 351 -0.083  8.743    5  0.471    4  0.471    8  0.146    7 0.5713   23  1.131   16 -0.045    6  0.338
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.045  8.881   11  0.171   11  0.157   16 -0.043   10 0.5242   24  1.113   23 -0.256   10  0.170
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.031  8.362   24 -0.273   24 -0.293   17 -0.056   25 0.4424   26  1.075   26 -0.316    9  0.204
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.092  8.871   31 -0.574   31 -0.577   31 -0.507   32 0.3902   30  1.027   32 -0.823   21 -0.190

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  9  0 466 412  0.164  9.328   15  0.029   14  0.014    9  0.126   13 0.5075    3  1.528    6  0.481   23 -0.228
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.149  9.494    7  0.453    7  0.449    3  0.398    6 0.5779   14  1.341    5  0.483    7  0.313
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.121 10.172   29 -0.459   28 -0.479   30 -0.344   29 0.4183   18  1.258   28 -0.372   27 -0.315
TEXANS     13  6  0 450 329  0.246 10.784    6  0.456    6  0.450    4  0.368    5 0.5795   27  1.058   13  0.088    2  0.647

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     6 11  0 414 492 -0.107  8.325   25 -0.289   25 -0.311   24 -0.198   24 0.4464    2  1.586   11  0.245   31 -0.641
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.042  8.303   20 -0.085   20 -0.095   12  0.076   20 0.4837    8  1.398   12  0.240   17 -0.088
STEELERS   10  8  0 403 417 -0.030  9.064   12  0.092   12  0.081   21 -0.109   12 0.5163   15  1.282   19 -0.106   18 -0.113
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.197  7.800   27 -0.439   27 -0.470   29 -0.312   27 0.4200   32  0.926   31 -0.745   13  0.120

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      13  6  0 538 422 -0.030  9.033    8  0.304    8  0.289    6  0.231    8 0.5578    4  1.525    3  0.581   19 -0.119
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.157  8.416   32 -0.628   32 -0.637   32 -0.608   31 0.3999   16  1.279   30 -0.608   30 -0.609
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.178  7.880   22 -0.232   22 -0.250   28 -0.284   21 0.4624   17  1.259   24 -0.311   24 -0.258
PATRIOTS   17  4  0 557 375 -0.104  9.180    4  0.484    5  0.468    5  0.361    3 0.5871   20  1.238    9  0.307    4  0.415

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       14  6  0 599 425  0.311 11.705    2  0.566    2  0.521    2  0.508    2 0.5939    6  1.476    1  0.785    8  0.231
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.161 10.106   28 -0.453   29 -0.481   26 -0.226   26 0.4258   10  1.376   18 -0.093   28 -0.359
49ERS      13  6  0 466 431  0.258 11.157    3  0.515    3  0.508    7  0.173    4 0.5831   12  1.350   10  0.270   14  0.076
SEAHAWKS   17  3  0 584 338  0.272 11.299    1  0.821    1  0.774    1  0.776    1 0.6383   21  1.234    2  0.717    1  0.835

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  0.040  9.002   16  0.013   16 -0.004   19 -0.091   14 0.5055   11  1.373   14  0.037   22 -0.220
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.023  8.705   19 -0.055   19 -0.064   18 -0.086   18 0.4957   19  1.244   20 -0.132   16 -0.041
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.036  9.691   18 -0.045   18 -0.062   20 -0.109   16 0.4971   25  1.088   27 -0.354   12  0.135
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.075  8.524   23 -0.272   23 -0.293   23 -0.158   22 0.4572   29  1.032   29 -0.469   11  0.152

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       9  8  0 481 413 -0.018  8.398   13  0.040   13  0.021   14  0.047   17 0.4958    5  1.521    7  0.391   26 -0.297
BEARS      12  7  0 489 462 -0.070  9.096    9  0.200    9  0.182   11  0.085    9 0.5255    7  1.444    8  0.316   20 -0.146
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.061  8.712   17  0.012   17 -0.006   15 -0.026   19 0.4957   22  1.231   17 -0.090   15  0.037
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.047  8.350   14  0.030   15  0.012   13  0.051   15 0.5003   31  0.986   25 -0.314    3  0.416

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     7  9  1 471 511 -0.172  7.704   21 -0.189   21 -0.206   25 -0.223   23 0.4494    1  1.765    4  0.509   32 -0.955
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.073  8.384   30 -0.479   30 -0.504   22 -0.120   30 0.4039    9  1.386   15  0.026   25 -0.267
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.087  8.428   26 -0.367   26 -0.392   27 -0.272   28 0.4191   13  1.347   21 -0.179   29 -0.365
EAGLES     11  7  0 398 348 -0.017  8.908   10  0.181   10  0.165   10  0.086   11 0.5222   28  1.054   22 -0.198    5  0.371

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   47 29  0 0.618    1  0.530
AFC SOUTH  37 34  0 0.521    2  0.265
NFC NORTH  39 31  1 0.556    3  0.067
AFC WEST   35 36  0 0.493    4 -0.124
AFC EAST   40 34  0 0.541    5 -0.147
NFC SOUTH  30 39  0 0.435    6 -0.202
NFC EAST   27 41  1 0.399    7 -0.221
AFC NORTH  29 40  0 0.420    8 -0.264

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.172 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 Feb  9 05:30:11 2026
games through: Sun Feb  8 2026

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