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       10  3  0 379 227  0.320  7.541    1  0.521    1  0.540    1  0.665    1 0.6103   14  1.308    1  0.697    2  0.632
BRONCOS    11  2  0 308 235 -0.127  5.614    2  0.463    2  0.476   12  0.120    3 0.5820   25  1.132   21 -0.076    7  0.316
SEAHAWKS   10  3  0 387 226  0.205  6.763    3  0.453    3  0.468    2  0.609    2 0.5853   12  1.329    3  0.671    3  0.548
49ERS       9  4  0 307 269  0.270  7.509    4  0.418    4  0.447    5  0.285    5 0.5736   19  1.261    9  0.255    6  0.316
JAGUARS     9  4  0 328 272  0.279  7.542    5  0.410    5  0.420    4  0.371    4 0.5801   11  1.334    7  0.439    8  0.303
TEXANS      8  5  0 283 208  0.395  7.963    6  0.362    6  0.354    3  0.440    6 0.5710   32  0.917   17 -0.008    1  0.889
PATRIOTS   11  2  0 351 241 -0.308  4.764    7  0.357    7  0.336   10  0.157    7 0.5693   16  1.292   12  0.169   10  0.146
PACKERS     9  3  1 322 247 -0.132  5.709    8  0.271    8  0.251    9  0.159    8 0.5547   23  1.154   18 -0.010    5  0.328
BILLS       9  4  0 376 293 -0.082  5.894    9  0.248    9  0.229    8  0.200    9 0.5494    3  1.532    4  0.555   20 -0.155
EAGLES      8  5  0 289 271  0.093  6.969   10  0.240   10  0.224   13  0.083   10 0.5491   26  1.117   22 -0.132    9  0.298
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
COLTS       8  5  0 376 285  0.118  6.645   11  0.222   11  0.206    6  0.237   13 0.5373    6  1.495    5  0.536   17 -0.062
CHARGERS    9  4  0 299 271 -0.148  5.781   12  0.190   12  0.203   14 -0.005   11 0.5395   18  1.271   19 -0.023   14  0.013
BEARS       9  4  0 334 335 -0.185  5.680   13  0.181   13  0.194   18 -0.049   12 0.5392    5  1.500    8  0.257   27 -0.355
LIONS       8  5  0 394 304 -0.084  5.924   14  0.124   14  0.109   11  0.130   14 0.5211    4  1.513    6  0.456   23 -0.195
PANTHERS    7  6  0 247 297  0.018  6.873   15  0.104   15  0.093   22 -0.108   15 0.5210   27  1.107   26 -0.336   12  0.120
BUCCANEERS  7  7  0 327 354  0.110  7.701   16  0.093   16  0.083   15 -0.045   17 0.5109    7  1.448   11  0.185   26 -0.275
STEELERS    7  6  0 308 311 -0.058  6.330   17  0.046   17  0.033   19 -0.056   16 0.5130   15  1.307   20 -0.025   18 -0.087
CHIEFS      6  7  0 315 252  0.114  6.857   18 -0.006   18 -0.019    7  0.231   18 0.4931   24  1.140   15  0.045    4  0.417
COWBOYS     6  6  1 381 386 -0.083  6.223   19 -0.037   19 -0.036   16 -0.046   19 0.4917    1  1.770    2  0.688   32 -0.780
RAVENS      6  7  0 311 320 -0.085  6.228   20 -0.108   20 -0.110   20 -0.086   20 0.4726    9  1.396   13  0.069   25 -0.242
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DOLPHINS    6  7  0 281 296 -0.199  5.721   21 -0.173   21 -0.160   21 -0.104   21 0.4667   20  1.238   23 -0.165   15 -0.043
VIKINGS     5  8  0 255 281 -0.121  6.178   22 -0.239   22 -0.225   23 -0.158   22 0.4618   29  1.051   27 -0.453   11  0.137
FALCONS     5  9  0 281 341 -0.045  7.083   23 -0.242   23 -0.237   24 -0.180   23 0.4571   21  1.230   24 -0.252   19 -0.109
CARDINALS   3 10  0 282 348  0.240  7.909   24 -0.301   24 -0.295   17 -0.047   25 0.4449   10  1.363   14  0.061   21 -0.156
BENGALS     4  9  0 314 413 -0.066  6.626   25 -0.306   25 -0.302   26 -0.261   24 0.4488    2  1.634   10  0.252   31 -0.774
SAINTS      3 10  0 206 315  0.035  7.190   26 -0.368   26 -0.365   27 -0.267   26 0.4306   31  0.975   31 -0.650   13  0.116
TITANS      2 11  0 201 357  0.163  8.052   27 -0.418   27 -0.416   29 -0.359   27 0.4151   22  1.175   29 -0.502   24 -0.217
COMMANDERS  3 10  0 262 354 -0.084  6.544   28 -0.432   28 -0.434   30 -0.379   29 0.4101   13  1.316   25 -0.335   29 -0.423
GIANTS      2 11  0 279 367  0.072  7.202   29 -0.478   29 -0.478   25 -0.200   28 0.4117    8  1.422   16 -0.008   28 -0.392
JETS        3 10  0 256 349 -0.227  5.802   30 -0.505   30 -0.512   31 -0.446   30 0.4029   17  1.271   28 -0.463   30 -0.429
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BROWNS      3 10  0 223 301 -0.246  5.715   31 -0.520   31 -0.525   28 -0.353   32 0.3923   28  1.053   30 -0.645   16 -0.061
RAIDERS     2 11  0 196 332 -0.124  6.615   32 -0.571   32 -0.556   32 -0.489   31 0.3962   30  1.024   32 -0.815   22 -0.162

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    11  2  0 308 235 -0.127  5.614    2  0.463    2  0.476   12  0.120    3 0.5820   25  1.132   21 -0.076    7  0.316
CHARGERS    9  4  0 299 271 -0.148  5.781   12  0.190   12  0.203   14 -0.005   11 0.5395   18  1.271   19 -0.023   14  0.013
CHIEFS      6  7  0 315 252  0.114  6.857   18 -0.006   18 -0.019    7  0.231   18 0.4931   24  1.140   15  0.045    4  0.417
RAIDERS     2 11  0 196 332 -0.124  6.615   32 -0.571   32 -0.556   32 -0.489   31 0.3962   30  1.024   32 -0.815   22 -0.162

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     9  4  0 328 272  0.279  7.542    5  0.410    5  0.420    4  0.371    4 0.5801   11  1.334    7  0.439    8  0.303
TEXANS      8  5  0 283 208  0.395  7.963    6  0.362    6  0.354    3  0.440    6 0.5710   32  0.917   17 -0.008    1  0.889
COLTS       8  5  0 376 285  0.118  6.645   11  0.222   11  0.206    6  0.237   13 0.5373    6  1.495    5  0.536   17 -0.062
TITANS      2 11  0 201 357  0.163  8.052   27 -0.418   27 -0.416   29 -0.359   27 0.4151   22  1.175   29 -0.502   24 -0.217

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    7  6  0 308 311 -0.058  6.330   17  0.046   17  0.033   19 -0.056   16 0.5130   15  1.307   20 -0.025   18 -0.087
RAVENS      6  7  0 311 320 -0.085  6.228   20 -0.108   20 -0.110   20 -0.086   20 0.4726    9  1.396   13  0.069   25 -0.242
BENGALS     4  9  0 314 413 -0.066  6.626   25 -0.306   25 -0.302   26 -0.261   24 0.4488    2  1.634   10  0.252   31 -0.774
BROWNS      3 10  0 223 301 -0.246  5.715   31 -0.520   31 -0.525   28 -0.353   32 0.3923   28  1.053   30 -0.645   16 -0.061

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   11  2  0 351 241 -0.308  4.764    7  0.357    7  0.336   10  0.157    7 0.5693   16  1.292   12  0.169   10  0.146
BILLS       9  4  0 376 293 -0.082  5.894    9  0.248    9  0.229    8  0.200    9 0.5494    3  1.532    4  0.555   20 -0.155
DOLPHINS    6  7  0 281 296 -0.199  5.721   21 -0.173   21 -0.160   21 -0.104   21 0.4667   20  1.238   23 -0.165   15 -0.043
JETS        3 10  0 256 349 -0.227  5.802   30 -0.505   30 -0.512   31 -0.446   30 0.4029   17  1.271   28 -0.463   30 -0.429

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       10  3  0 379 227  0.320  7.541    1  0.521    1  0.540    1  0.665    1 0.6103   14  1.308    1  0.697    2  0.632
SEAHAWKS   10  3  0 387 226  0.205  6.763    3  0.453    3  0.468    2  0.609    2 0.5853   12  1.329    3  0.671    3  0.548
49ERS       9  4  0 307 269  0.270  7.509    4  0.418    4  0.447    5  0.285    5 0.5736   19  1.261    9  0.255    6  0.316
CARDINALS   3 10  0 282 348  0.240  7.909   24 -0.301   24 -0.295   17 -0.047   25 0.4449   10  1.363   14  0.061   21 -0.156

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
PANTHERS    7  6  0 247 297  0.018  6.873   15  0.104   15  0.093   22 -0.108   15 0.5210   27  1.107   26 -0.336   12  0.120
BUCCANEERS  7  7  0 327 354  0.110  7.701   16  0.093   16  0.083   15 -0.045   17 0.5109    7  1.448   11  0.185   26 -0.275
FALCONS     5  9  0 281 341 -0.045  7.083   23 -0.242   23 -0.237   24 -0.180   23 0.4571   21  1.230   24 -0.252   19 -0.109
SAINTS      3 10  0 206 315  0.035  7.190   26 -0.368   26 -0.365   27 -0.267   26 0.4306   31  0.975   31 -0.650   13  0.116

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     9  3  1 322 247 -0.132  5.709    8  0.271    8  0.251    9  0.159    8 0.5547   23  1.154   18 -0.010    5  0.328
BEARS       9  4  0 334 335 -0.185  5.680   13  0.181   13  0.194   18 -0.049   12 0.5392    5  1.500    8  0.257   27 -0.355
LIONS       8  5  0 394 304 -0.084  5.924   14  0.124   14  0.109   11  0.130   14 0.5211    4  1.513    6  0.456   23 -0.195
VIKINGS     5  8  0 255 281 -0.121  6.178   22 -0.239   22 -0.225   23 -0.158   22 0.4618   29  1.051   27 -0.453   11  0.137

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  5  0 289 271  0.093  6.969   10  0.240   10  0.224   13  0.083   10 0.5491   26  1.117   22 -0.132    9  0.298
COWBOYS     6  6  1 381 386 -0.083  6.223   19 -0.037   19 -0.036   16 -0.046   19 0.4917    1  1.770    2  0.688   32 -0.780
COMMANDERS  3 10  0 262 354 -0.084  6.544   28 -0.432   28 -0.434   30 -0.379   29 0.4101   13  1.316   25 -0.335   29 -0.423
GIANTS      2 11  0 279 367  0.072  7.202   29 -0.478   29 -0.478   25 -0.200   28 0.4117    8  1.422   16 -0.008   28 -0.392

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   32 20  0 0.615    1  0.643
AFC SOUTH  27 25  0 0.519    2  0.328
NFC NORTH  31 20  1 0.606    3  0.019
AFC WEST   28 24  0 0.538    4 -0.017
AFC EAST   29 23  0 0.558    5 -0.114
NFC EAST   19 32  1 0.375    6 -0.205
NFC SOUTH  22 32  0 0.407    7 -0.246
AFC NORTH  20 32  0 0.385    8 -0.341

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.173 points in main ratings (0.109 for semineutral)
     0.017 points in improved RPI (0.015 for semineutral)
Average of 6.20 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Dec 12 05:30:09 2025
games through: Thu Dec 11 2025

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