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
BILLS      5 1 0 197 171  0.061  2.975    4  0.095    4  0.107   10  0.044    4 0.5400    1  1.730    1  0.714   32 -0.626
LIONS      3 2 0 164 148  0.057  2.481   14  0.021   14  0.036   11  0.043   13 0.4922    2  1.615    2  0.527   31 -0.441 P
PANTHERS   3 2 0 146 123  0.127  2.582   13  0.030   13  0.038    7  0.060   12 0.4994    5  1.533    3  0.419   26 -0.299 P
RAIDERS    3 3 0 162 162  0.020  2.960   16 -0.002   16  0.010   17  0.011   15 0.4593    4  1.539    4  0.378   29 -0.356
SAINTS     2 4 0 152 178  0.010  3.080   21 -0.040   21 -0.034   23 -0.025   20 0.4130    3  1.544    5  0.350   30 -0.399
COLTS      2 4 0 144 164 -0.204  2.608   27 -0.074   27 -0.061   25 -0.041   28 0.3560    6  1.503    6  0.273   28 -0.355
COWBOYS    2 4 0 151 159 -0.175  2.609   26 -0.070   26 -0.055   24 -0.031   29 0.3468    7  1.490    7  0.264   27 -0.325
BENGALS    3 2 0 128 109  0.135  2.616   12  0.032   12  0.040    8  0.049   14 0.4634   10  1.402    8  0.215   23 -0.118 P
49ERS      6 0 0 177 110 -0.129  2.283    2  0.115    2  0.128    5  0.077    2 0.5702   11  1.355    9  0.176   19 -0.022
CARDINALS  2 4 0 126 178 -0.136  2.905   23 -0.048   24 -0.044   30 -0.074   22 0.3854    8  1.432   10  0.135   25 -0.283
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BEARS      4 2 0 150 119  0.216  3.312    7  0.078    8  0.075    6  0.060    6 0.5273   12  1.329   11  0.124   18 -0.004
COMMANDERS 1 4 1 132 172 -0.214  2.685   30 -0.095   30 -0.085   29 -0.071   30 0.3306    9  1.419   12  0.120   24 -0.262
JAGUARS    4 2 0 154 104  0.202  3.147    8  0.073   10  0.070    1  0.100    8 0.5174   16  1.288   13  0.108   13  0.091
FALCONS    2 4 0 142 153  0.125  3.306   19 -0.031   19 -0.024   19  0.007   18 0.4269   13  1.324   14  0.064   21 -0.050
RAVENS     4 2 0 156 132 -0.230  2.359   15  0.017   15  0.031   21 -0.003   16 0.4480   14  1.324   15  0.054   22 -0.060
SEAHAWKS   3 3 0 148 122 -0.035  2.694   17 -0.011   17 -0.001   12  0.038   17 0.4451   15  1.292   16  0.052   16  0.024
CHIEFS     5 0 0 140  83 -0.130  1.906    3  0.099    3  0.110    4  0.082    3 0.5690   19  1.232   17  0.015   11  0.149 P
TEXANS     2 4 0 144 143 -0.033  2.858   22 -0.045   22 -0.041   15  0.017   27 0.3587   17  1.281   18  0.015   17  0.019
STEELERS   4 2 0 137 128  0.083  3.133   11  0.055   11  0.065   13  0.021   11 0.5012   21  1.225   19 -0.054   12  0.096
PACKERS    4 2 0 127 125  0.156  3.252   10  0.061    9  0.070    9  0.048   10 0.5062   23  1.203   20 -0.055   10  0.152
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCCANEERS 1 5 0 119 138  0.111  3.274   28 -0.087   28 -0.073   20  0.002   25 0.3729   22  1.222   21 -0.078   14  0.082
RAMS       2 4 0 135 138 -0.134  2.663   24 -0.057   25 -0.054   22 -0.011   21 0.4037   20  1.227   22 -0.084   15  0.062
GIANTS     3 2 1 136 140 -0.503  1.868   18 -0.026   18 -0.021   28 -0.068   23 0.3822   18  1.264   23 -0.091   20 -0.044
PATRIOTS   4 2 0 136 113  0.299  3.503    5  0.085    5  0.082    3  0.083    5 0.5372   28  1.070   24 -0.187    2  0.353
BRONCOS    4 2 0 114 125  0.192  3.438    6  0.082    6  0.079   14  0.018    7 0.5267   24  1.111   25 -0.202    7  0.237
JETS       2 4 0 112 122  0.123  3.261   20 -0.033   20 -0.026   16  0.015   19 0.4260   26  1.097   26 -0.222    6  0.252
EAGLES     2 4 0 106 137 -0.126  2.918   25 -0.060   23 -0.043   27 -0.050   26 0.3678   25  1.098   27 -0.286    9  0.186
DOLPHINS   0 5 0  70 132  0.319  3.356   29 -0.091   29 -0.078   26 -0.048   24 0.3756   27  1.071   28 -0.317    8  0.222 P
BROWNS     4 2 0 106 122  0.165  3.393    9  0.064    7  0.075   18  0.010    9 0.5165   29  1.020   29 -0.320    3  0.339
VIKINGS    5 0 0 109  64  0.144  2.483    1  0.119    1  0.135    2  0.091    1 0.6031   32  0.890   30 -0.386    1  0.567 P
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CHARGERS   0 6 0  90 151 -0.057  3.213   32 -0.135   32 -0.129   31 -0.084   31 0.3206   30  0.987   31 -0.452    5  0.283
TITANS     1 5 0  84 129 -0.330  2.429   31 -0.120   31 -0.114   32 -0.111   32 0.2785   31  0.917   32 -0.557    4  0.334

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
RAIDERS    3 3 0 162 162  0.020  2.960   16 -0.002   16  0.010   17  0.011   15 0.4593    4  1.539    4  0.378   29 -0.356
CHIEFS     5 0 0 140  83 -0.130  1.906    3  0.099    3  0.110    4  0.082    3 0.5690   19  1.232   17  0.015   11  0.149 P
BRONCOS    4 2 0 114 125  0.192  3.438    6  0.082    6  0.079   14  0.018    7 0.5267   24  1.111   25 -0.202    7  0.237
CHARGERS   0 6 0  90 151 -0.057  3.213   32 -0.135   32 -0.129   31 -0.084   31 0.3206   30  0.987   31 -0.452    5  0.283

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      2 4 0 144 164 -0.204  2.608   27 -0.074   27 -0.061   25 -0.041   28 0.3560    6  1.503    6  0.273   28 -0.355
JAGUARS    4 2 0 154 104  0.202  3.147    8  0.073   10  0.070    1  0.100    8 0.5174   16  1.288   13  0.108   13  0.091
TEXANS     2 4 0 144 143 -0.033  2.858   22 -0.045   22 -0.041   15  0.017   27 0.3587   17  1.281   18  0.015   17  0.019
TITANS     1 5 0  84 129 -0.330  2.429   31 -0.120   31 -0.114   32 -0.111   32 0.2785   31  0.917   32 -0.557    4  0.334

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    3 2 0 128 109  0.135  2.616   12  0.032   12  0.040    8  0.049   14 0.4634   10  1.402    8  0.215   23 -0.118 P
RAVENS     4 2 0 156 132 -0.230  2.359   15  0.017   15  0.031   21 -0.003   16 0.4480   14  1.324   15  0.054   22 -0.060
STEELERS   4 2 0 137 128  0.083  3.133   11  0.055   11  0.065   13  0.021   11 0.5012   21  1.225   19 -0.054   12  0.096
BROWNS     4 2 0 106 122  0.165  3.393    9  0.064    7  0.075   18  0.010    9 0.5165   29  1.020   29 -0.320    3  0.339

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      5 1 0 197 171  0.061  2.975    4  0.095    4  0.107   10  0.044    4 0.5400    1  1.730    1  0.714   32 -0.626
PATRIOTS   4 2 0 136 113  0.299  3.503    5  0.085    5  0.082    3  0.083    5 0.5372   28  1.070   24 -0.187    2  0.353
JETS       2 4 0 112 122  0.123  3.261   20 -0.033   20 -0.026   16  0.015   19 0.4260   26  1.097   26 -0.222    6  0.252
DOLPHINS   0 5 0  70 132  0.319  3.356   29 -0.091   29 -0.078   26 -0.048   24 0.3756   27  1.071   28 -0.317    8  0.222 P

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
49ERS      6 0 0 177 110 -0.129  2.283    2  0.115    2  0.128    5  0.077    2 0.5702   11  1.355    9  0.176   19 -0.022
CARDINALS  2 4 0 126 178 -0.136  2.905   23 -0.048   24 -0.044   30 -0.074   22 0.3854    8  1.432   10  0.135   25 -0.283
SEAHAWKS   3 3 0 148 122 -0.035  2.694   17 -0.011   17 -0.001   12  0.038   17 0.4451   15  1.292   16  0.052   16  0.024
RAMS       2 4 0 135 138 -0.134  2.663   24 -0.057   25 -0.054   22 -0.011   21 0.4037   20  1.227   22 -0.084   15  0.062

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   3 2 0 146 123  0.127  2.582   13  0.030   13  0.038    7  0.060   12 0.4994    5  1.533    3  0.419   26 -0.299 P
SAINTS     2 4 0 152 178  0.010  3.080   21 -0.040   21 -0.034   23 -0.025   20 0.4130    3  1.544    5  0.350   30 -0.399
FALCONS    2 4 0 142 153  0.125  3.306   19 -0.031   19 -0.024   19  0.007   18 0.4269   13  1.324   14  0.064   21 -0.050
BUCCANEERS 1 5 0 119 138  0.111  3.274   28 -0.087   28 -0.073   20  0.002   25 0.3729   22  1.222   21 -0.078   14  0.082

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      3 2 0 164 148  0.057  2.481   14  0.021   14  0.036   11  0.043   13 0.4922    2  1.615    2  0.527   31 -0.441 P
BEARS      4 2 0 150 119  0.216  3.312    7  0.078    8  0.075    6  0.060    6 0.5273   12  1.329   11  0.124   18 -0.004
PACKERS    4 2 0 127 125  0.156  3.252   10  0.061    9  0.070    9  0.048   10 0.5062   23  1.203   20 -0.055   10  0.152
VIKINGS    5 0 0 109  64  0.144  2.483    1  0.119    1  0.135    2  0.091    1 0.6031   32  0.890   30 -0.386    1  0.567 P

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    2 4 0 151 159 -0.175  2.609   26 -0.070   26 -0.055   24 -0.031   29 0.3468    7  1.490    7  0.264   27 -0.325
COMMANDERS 1 4 1 132 172 -0.214  2.685   30 -0.095   30 -0.085   29 -0.071   30 0.3306    9  1.419   12  0.120   24 -0.262
GIANTS     3 2 1 136 140 -0.503  1.868   18 -0.026   18 -0.021   28 -0.068   23 0.3822   18  1.264   23 -0.091   20 -0.044
EAGLES     2 4 0 106 137 -0.126  2.918   25 -0.060   23 -0.043   27 -0.050   26 0.3678   25  1.098   27 -0.286    9  0.186

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC NORTH  16  6  0 0.727    1  0.401
AFC EAST   11 12  0 0.478    2  0.107
AFC NORTH  15  8  0 0.652    3  0.096
NFC SOUTH   8 15  0 0.348    4  0.037
NFC WEST   13 11  0 0.542    5  0.029
AFC WEST   12 11  0 0.522    6  0.012
AFC SOUTH   9 15  0 0.375    7 -0.129
NFC EAST    8 14  2 0.375    8 -0.472

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Oct 20 05:30:18 2026
games through: Mon Oct 19 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.