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  0.243  9.228    1  0.709    1  0.651    1  0.666    1 0.6195   22  1.237    2  0.600    1  0.732
JAGUARS    12  4  0 433 329  0.209  8.724    2  0.549    2  0.510    3  0.421    2 0.5939   12  1.363    4  0.526    6  0.317
BRONCOS    13  3  0 382 308 -0.079  7.227    3  0.502    3  0.482   10  0.122    6 0.5749   24  1.206   15  0.015    8  0.228
49ERS      12  5  0 437 371  0.213  9.459    5  0.456    4  0.482    5  0.272    4 0.5806   13  1.359    9  0.371   11  0.173
RAMS       11  5  0 481 326  0.321  9.311    4  0.472    5  0.455    2  0.561    3 0.5901    7  1.449    1  0.789    5  0.334
TEXANS     11  5  0 366 265  0.255  8.958    6  0.414    6  0.425    4  0.353    5 0.5797   31  0.994   17 -0.013    2  0.719
PATRIOTS   13  3  0 452 310 -0.247  6.140    7  0.337    7  0.339    6  0.236    7 0.5682   14  1.354   10  0.328   13  0.144
EAGLES     11  5  0 362 301  0.032  7.995    8  0.305    8  0.313    7  0.204    9 0.5518   27  1.032   21 -0.117    3  0.525
CHARGERS   11  5  0 365 321 -0.063  7.502    9  0.250    9  0.257   13  0.104   11 0.5415   23  1.222   14  0.017    9  0.190
BILLS      11  5  0 446 357 -0.064  7.365   10  0.247   10  0.254    8  0.174    8 0.5564    4  1.521    5  0.508   20 -0.161
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BEARS      11  5  0 425 396 -0.095  7.339   11  0.243   11  0.251   12  0.104   10 0.5428    5  1.505    8  0.414   22 -0.206
PACKERS     9  6  1 388 344 -0.071  7.465   12  0.096   12  0.093   14  0.062   13 0.5172   21  1.239   16 -0.002   14  0.125
STEELERS    9  7  0 371 363 -0.035  7.807   13  0.071   13  0.083   18 -0.022   12 0.5187   17  1.274   19 -0.038   16 -0.005
COLTS       8  8  0 436 374  0.163  8.624   14  0.065   14  0.069    9  0.157   14 0.5149    6  1.469    7  0.414   19 -0.100
BUCCANEERS  8  9  0 380 411  0.039  8.855   16 -0.019   15 -0.002   20 -0.095   15 0.5046   11  1.373   13  0.023   23 -0.213
VIKINGS     8  8  0 328 330 -0.020  7.940   17 -0.025   16 -0.009   17  0.004   17 0.4962   29  1.023   27 -0.327    4  0.336
LIONS       8  8  0 462 397 -0.002  7.841   15 -0.016   17 -0.014   15  0.055   19 0.4897    3  1.559    6  0.447   27 -0.336
PANTHERS    8  9  0 311 380  0.004  8.805   18 -0.043   18 -0.025   21 -0.150   16 0.5024   28  1.029   28 -0.474   10  0.175
RAVENS      8  8  0 400 372 -0.029  7.730   19 -0.046   19 -0.029   11  0.116   18 0.4938    9  1.381   12  0.246   17 -0.013
FALCONS     7  9  0 334 384 -0.006  8.170   20 -0.114   20 -0.095   19 -0.077   20 0.4864   19  1.254   22 -0.120   18 -0.034
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
COWBOYS     7  8  1 454 477 -0.146  7.241   21 -0.146   21 -0.129   22 -0.157   21 0.4679    1  1.771    3  0.575   32 -0.890
CHIEFS      6 10  0 350 314  0.045  8.171   22 -0.198   22 -0.189   16  0.017   25 0.4610   25  1.085   23 -0.241    7  0.276
DOLPHINS    7  9  0 337 386 -0.204  7.004   23 -0.217   23 -0.212   26 -0.232   22 0.4649   20  1.254   24 -0.277   21 -0.188
BENGALS     6 10  0 396 472 -0.051  8.009   24 -0.220   24 -0.219   23 -0.161   24 0.4624    2  1.582   11  0.266   30 -0.588
SAINTS      6 10  0 289 364 -0.081  7.862   25 -0.238   25 -0.238   24 -0.165   23 0.4624   26  1.037   29 -0.481   12  0.150
TITANS      3 13  0 277 437  0.115  9.334   27 -0.420   26 -0.434   28 -0.280   27 0.4189   18  1.270   26 -0.303   25 -0.258
CARDINALS   3 13  0 335 451  0.145  9.251   26 -0.418   27 -0.437   27 -0.239   26 0.4269   10  1.377   20 -0.116   28 -0.363
COMMANDERS  4 12  0 332 434 -0.092  7.809   28 -0.429   28 -0.446   30 -0.354   29 0.4069   15  1.326   25 -0.300   29 -0.407
BROWNS      4 12  0 259 361 -0.167  7.398   29 -0.476   29 -0.494   29 -0.338   28 0.4098   32  0.931   31 -0.775   15  0.099
GIANTS      3 13  0 347 422 -0.031  8.072   30 -0.508   30 -0.524   25 -0.173   31 0.3977    8  1.386   18 -0.035   26 -0.310
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JETS        3 13  0 292 468 -0.173  7.549   31 -0.573   31 -0.592   32 -0.620   30 0.4009   16  1.301   30 -0.600   31 -0.639
RAIDERS     2 14  0 227 420 -0.070  8.414   32 -0.607   32 -0.625   31 -0.582   32 0.3839   30  1.023   32 -0.913   24 -0.250

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    13  3  0 382 308 -0.079  7.227    3  0.502    3  0.482   10  0.122    6 0.5749   24  1.206   15  0.015    8  0.228
CHARGERS   11  5  0 365 321 -0.063  7.502    9  0.250    9  0.257   13  0.104   11 0.5415   23  1.222   14  0.017    9  0.190
CHIEFS      6 10  0 350 314  0.045  8.171   22 -0.198   22 -0.189   16  0.017   25 0.4610   25  1.085   23 -0.241    7  0.276
RAIDERS     2 14  0 227 420 -0.070  8.414   32 -0.607   32 -0.625   31 -0.582   32 0.3839   30  1.023   32 -0.913   24 -0.250

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
JAGUARS    12  4  0 433 329  0.209  8.724    2  0.549    2  0.510    3  0.421    2 0.5939   12  1.363    4  0.526    6  0.317
TEXANS     11  5  0 366 265  0.255  8.958    6  0.414    6  0.425    4  0.353    5 0.5797   31  0.994   17 -0.013    2  0.719
COLTS       8  8  0 436 374  0.163  8.624   14  0.065   14  0.069    9  0.157   14 0.5149    6  1.469    7  0.414   19 -0.100
TITANS      3 13  0 277 437  0.115  9.334   27 -0.420   26 -0.434   28 -0.280   27 0.4189   18  1.270   26 -0.303   25 -0.258

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    9  7  0 371 363 -0.035  7.807   13  0.071   13  0.083   18 -0.022   12 0.5187   17  1.274   19 -0.038   16 -0.005
RAVENS      8  8  0 400 372 -0.029  7.730   19 -0.046   19 -0.029   11  0.116   18 0.4938    9  1.381   12  0.246   17 -0.013
BENGALS     6 10  0 396 472 -0.051  8.009   24 -0.220   24 -0.219   23 -0.161   24 0.4624    2  1.582   11  0.266   30 -0.588
BROWNS      4 12  0 259 361 -0.167  7.398   29 -0.476   29 -0.494   29 -0.338   28 0.4098   32  0.931   31 -0.775   15  0.099

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   13  3  0 452 310 -0.247  6.140    7  0.337    7  0.339    6  0.236    7 0.5682   14  1.354   10  0.328   13  0.144
BILLS      11  5  0 446 357 -0.064  7.365   10  0.247   10  0.254    8  0.174    8 0.5564    4  1.521    5  0.508   20 -0.161
DOLPHINS    7  9  0 337 386 -0.204  7.004   23 -0.217   23 -0.212   26 -0.232   22 0.4649   20  1.254   24 -0.277   21 -0.188
JETS        3 13  0 292 468 -0.173  7.549   31 -0.573   31 -0.592   32 -0.620   30 0.4009   16  1.301   30 -0.600   31 -0.639

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  0.243  9.228    1  0.709    1  0.651    1  0.666    1 0.6195   22  1.237    2  0.600    1  0.732
49ERS      12  5  0 437 371  0.213  9.459    5  0.456    4  0.482    5  0.272    4 0.5806   13  1.359    9  0.371   11  0.173
RAMS       11  5  0 481 326  0.321  9.311    4  0.472    5  0.455    2  0.561    3 0.5901    7  1.449    1  0.789    5  0.334
CARDINALS   3 13  0 335 451  0.145  9.251   26 -0.418   27 -0.437   27 -0.239   26 0.4269   10  1.377   20 -0.116   28 -0.363

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  0.039  8.855   16 -0.019   15 -0.002   20 -0.095   15 0.5046   11  1.373   13  0.023   23 -0.213
PANTHERS    8  9  0 311 380  0.004  8.805   18 -0.043   18 -0.025   21 -0.150   16 0.5024   28  1.029   28 -0.474   10  0.175
FALCONS     7  9  0 334 384 -0.006  8.170   20 -0.114   20 -0.095   19 -0.077   20 0.4864   19  1.254   22 -0.120   18 -0.034
SAINTS      6 10  0 289 364 -0.081  7.862   25 -0.238   25 -0.238   24 -0.165   23 0.4624   26  1.037   29 -0.481   12  0.150

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      11  5  0 425 396 -0.095  7.339   11  0.243   11  0.251   12  0.104   10 0.5428    5  1.505    8  0.414   22 -0.206
PACKERS     9  6  1 388 344 -0.071  7.465   12  0.096   12  0.093   14  0.062   13 0.5172   21  1.239   16 -0.002   14  0.125
VIKINGS     8  8  0 328 330 -0.020  7.940   17 -0.025   16 -0.009   17  0.004   17 0.4962   29  1.023   27 -0.327    4  0.336
LIONS       8  8  0 462 397 -0.002  7.841   15 -0.016   17 -0.014   15  0.055   19 0.4897    3  1.559    6  0.447   27 -0.336

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  5  0 362 301  0.032  7.995    8  0.305    8  0.313    7  0.204    9 0.5518   27  1.032   21 -0.117    3  0.525
COWBOYS     7  8  1 454 477 -0.146  7.241   21 -0.146   21 -0.129   22 -0.157   21 0.4679    1  1.771    3  0.575   32 -0.890
COMMANDERS  4 12  0 332 434 -0.092  7.809   28 -0.429   28 -0.446   30 -0.354   29 0.4069   15  1.326   25 -0.300   29 -0.407
GIANTS      3 13  0 347 422 -0.031  8.072   30 -0.508   30 -0.524   25 -0.173   31 0.3977    8  1.386   18 -0.035   26 -0.310

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   40 26  0 0.606    1  0.552
AFC SOUTH  34 30  0 0.531    2  0.290
NFC NORTH  36 27  1 0.570    3  0.083
AFC WEST   32 32  0 0.500    4 -0.070
AFC EAST   34 30  0 0.531    5 -0.174
NFC EAST   25 38  1 0.398    6 -0.196
NFC SOUTH  29 37  0 0.439    7 -0.217
AFC NORTH  27 37  0 0.422    8 -0.225

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.152 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: Sun Jan  4 05:30:11 2026
games through: Sat Jan  3 2026

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