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       5 2 0 175 117  0.296  3.932    5  0.191    5  0.195    1  0.279    5 0.5862   27  1.105   15  0.056    2  0.503
COLTS      6 1 0 232 140  0.078  3.071    1  0.244    1  0.225    2  0.238    4 0.5883    3  1.539    2  0.610   22 -0.134
CHIEFS     4 3 0 186 124  0.074  3.336   15  0.040   14  0.043    3  0.217   15 0.5218   22  1.165   13  0.069    3  0.365
SEAHAWKS   5 2 0 193 136  0.202  3.756    6  0.175    6  0.177    4  0.206    7 0.5806   13  1.355    6  0.309   10  0.102
TEXANS     2 4 0 127  88  0.366  3.441   22 -0.072   22 -0.058    5  0.193   22 0.4710   32  0.810   27 -0.363    1  0.749
LIONS      5 2 0 215 151  0.077  3.325    8  0.142    8  0.140    6  0.171    6 0.5827    8  1.419    5  0.365   17 -0.024
49ERS      5 2 0 145 138  0.237  3.984    4  0.202    4  0.211    7  0.087    3 0.6000   26  1.125   22 -0.110    7  0.285
EAGLES     5 2 0 170 165  0.278  4.179    2  0.234    3  0.218    8  0.081    1 0.6041   12  1.355    8  0.185   16 -0.024
BRONCOS    5 2 0 163 127 -0.048  3.081    9  0.126    9  0.122    9  0.078    9 0.5566   28  1.098   24 -0.154    5  0.310
PACKERS    4 1 1 158 125  0.006  2.835    7  0.147    7  0.144   10  0.076    8 0.5731   18  1.284   12  0.084   11  0.069
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCCANEERS 5 2 0 174 175  0.279  4.177    3  0.217    2  0.223   11  0.065    2 0.6018    4  1.520    4  0.408   28 -0.277
COWBOYS    3 3 1 222 206  0.003  3.450   19 -0.018   18 -0.000   12  0.041   18 0.4974    1  1.740    1  0.731   31 -0.650
PATRIOTS   5 2 0 181 133 -0.348  2.388   14  0.044   15  0.041   13  0.038   16 0.5142   15  1.296   14  0.061   15  0.015
JAGUARS    4 3 0 146 155  0.263  4.189   10  0.114   10  0.113   14  0.037   10 0.5530   16  1.290   16  0.052   14  0.023
CHARGERS   5 3 0 188 173 -0.016  3.849   11  0.096   11  0.089   15  0.030   13 0.5249   19  1.279   17  0.031   13  0.030
COMMANDERS 3 4 0 180 170 -0.003  3.394   21 -0.065   21 -0.053   16  0.028   21 0.4857    7  1.425    7  0.231   24 -0.175
CARDINALS  2 5 0 153 154  0.062  3.635   26 -0.148   26 -0.146   17  0.014   26 0.4412   20  1.263   20 -0.008   12  0.035
BEARS      4 2 0 152 155 -0.136  2.673   12  0.079   12  0.069   18 -0.011   11 0.5375   11  1.408   11  0.167   25 -0.190
STEELERS   4 2 0 150 140 -0.222  2.435   13  0.062   13  0.049   19 -0.021   12 0.5342    9  1.417   10  0.171   26 -0.213
GIANTS     2 5 0 153 177  0.138  3.980   24 -0.115   24 -0.106   20 -0.024   24 0.4434   14  1.305   18  0.010   19 -0.059
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS   4 3 0 145 152 -0.145  3.117   16  0.016   16  0.016   21 -0.039   20 0.4865   25  1.142   25 -0.216    9  0.138
FALCONS    3 3 0 110 120 -0.023  2.996   17 -0.010   19 -0.001   22 -0.045   14 0.5219   29  0.999   29 -0.393    6  0.304
BILLS      4 2 0 167 137 -0.452  1.871   18 -0.013   17  0.000   23 -0.045   23 0.4630    6  1.438    9  0.177   27 -0.267
RAVENS     1 5 0 144 194  0.132  3.593   27 -0.159   27 -0.156   24 -0.116   30 0.3874    2  1.675    3  0.469   32 -0.700
VIKINGS    3 4 0 155 162 -0.239  2.954   23 -0.105   23 -0.099   25 -0.125   19 0.4943   17  1.287   23 -0.114   23 -0.137
BROWNS     2 5 0 113 152 -0.308  2.980   29 -0.201   29 -0.207   26 -0.159   27 0.4200   31  0.854   32 -0.668    4  0.351
SAINTS     1 6 0 125 186 -0.044  3.639   30 -0.231   30 -0.237   27 -0.162   29 0.3884   21  1.198   26 -0.268   18 -0.056
BENGALS    3 4 0 136 214 -0.063  3.686   20 -0.055   20 -0.040   28 -0.219   17 0.5104    5  1.438   19  0.004   30 -0.441
JETS       0 7 0 129 183 -0.249  3.089   32 -0.364   32 -0.384   29 -0.220   32 0.3253   23  1.163   28 -0.370   21 -0.070
RAIDERS    2 5 0 103 180 -0.045  3.887   25 -0.128   25 -0.121   30 -0.223   25 0.4423   30  0.982   31 -0.592    8  0.145
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TITANS     1 6 0  96 192  0.125  4.338   28 -0.185   28 -0.182   31 -0.240   28 0.3987   24  1.147   30 -0.411   20 -0.069
DOLPHINS   1 6 0 140 205 -0.223  3.303   31 -0.261   31 -0.272   32 -0.241   31 0.3591   10  1.411   21 -0.058   29 -0.424

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     4 3 0 186 124  0.074  3.336   15  0.040   14  0.043    3  0.217   15 0.5218   22  1.165   13  0.069    3  0.365
BRONCOS    5 2 0 163 127 -0.048  3.081    9  0.126    9  0.122    9  0.078    9 0.5566   28  1.098   24 -0.154    5  0.310
CHARGERS   5 3 0 188 173 -0.016  3.849   11  0.096   11  0.089   15  0.030   13 0.5249   19  1.279   17  0.031   13  0.030
RAIDERS    2 5 0 103 180 -0.045  3.887   25 -0.128   25 -0.121   30 -0.223   25 0.4423   30  0.982   31 -0.592    8  0.145

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      6 1 0 232 140  0.078  3.071    1  0.244    1  0.225    2  0.238    4 0.5883    3  1.539    2  0.610   22 -0.134
TEXANS     2 4 0 127  88  0.366  3.441   22 -0.072   22 -0.058    5  0.193   22 0.4710   32  0.810   27 -0.363    1  0.749
JAGUARS    4 3 0 146 155  0.263  4.189   10  0.114   10  0.113   14  0.037   10 0.5530   16  1.290   16  0.052   14  0.023
TITANS     1 6 0  96 192  0.125  4.338   28 -0.185   28 -0.182   31 -0.240   28 0.3987   24  1.147   30 -0.411   20 -0.069

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   4 2 0 150 140 -0.222  2.435   13  0.062   13  0.049   19 -0.021   12 0.5342    9  1.417   10  0.171   26 -0.213
RAVENS     1 5 0 144 194  0.132  3.593   27 -0.159   27 -0.156   24 -0.116   30 0.3874    2  1.675    3  0.469   32 -0.700
BROWNS     2 5 0 113 152 -0.308  2.980   29 -0.201   29 -0.207   26 -0.159   27 0.4200   31  0.854   32 -0.668    4  0.351
BENGALS    3 4 0 136 214 -0.063  3.686   20 -0.055   20 -0.040   28 -0.219   17 0.5104    5  1.438   19  0.004   30 -0.441

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   5 2 0 181 133 -0.348  2.388   14  0.044   15  0.041   13  0.038   16 0.5142   15  1.296   14  0.061   15  0.015
BILLS      4 2 0 167 137 -0.452  1.871   18 -0.013   17  0.000   23 -0.045   23 0.4630    6  1.438    9  0.177   27 -0.267
JETS       0 7 0 129 183 -0.249  3.089   32 -0.364   32 -0.384   29 -0.220   32 0.3253   23  1.163   28 -0.370   21 -0.070
DOLPHINS   1 6 0 140 205 -0.223  3.303   31 -0.261   31 -0.272   32 -0.241   31 0.3591   10  1.411   21 -0.058   29 -0.424

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       5 2 0 175 117  0.296  3.932    5  0.191    5  0.195    1  0.279    5 0.5862   27  1.105   15  0.056    2  0.503
SEAHAWKS   5 2 0 193 136  0.202  3.756    6  0.175    6  0.177    4  0.206    7 0.5806   13  1.355    6  0.309   10  0.102
49ERS      5 2 0 145 138  0.237  3.984    4  0.202    4  0.211    7  0.087    3 0.6000   26  1.125   22 -0.110    7  0.285
CARDINALS  2 5 0 153 154  0.062  3.635   26 -0.148   26 -0.146   17  0.014   26 0.4412   20  1.263   20 -0.008   12  0.035

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 5 2 0 174 175  0.279  4.177    3  0.217    2  0.223   11  0.065    2 0.6018    4  1.520    4  0.408   28 -0.277
PANTHERS   4 3 0 145 152 -0.145  3.117   16  0.016   16  0.016   21 -0.039   20 0.4865   25  1.142   25 -0.216    9  0.138
FALCONS    3 3 0 110 120 -0.023  2.996   17 -0.010   19 -0.001   22 -0.045   14 0.5219   29  0.999   29 -0.393    6  0.304
SAINTS     1 6 0 125 186 -0.044  3.639   30 -0.231   30 -0.237   27 -0.162   29 0.3884   21  1.198   26 -0.268   18 -0.056

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      5 2 0 215 151  0.077  3.325    8  0.142    8  0.140    6  0.171    6 0.5827    8  1.419    5  0.365   17 -0.024
PACKERS    4 1 1 158 125  0.006  2.835    7  0.147    7  0.144   10  0.076    8 0.5731   18  1.284   12  0.084   11  0.069
BEARS      4 2 0 152 155 -0.136  2.673   12  0.079   12  0.069   18 -0.011   11 0.5375   11  1.408   11  0.167   25 -0.190
VIKINGS    3 4 0 155 162 -0.239  2.954   23 -0.105   23 -0.099   25 -0.125   19 0.4943   17  1.287   23 -0.114   23 -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     5 2 0 170 165  0.278  4.179    2  0.234    3  0.218    8  0.081    1 0.6041   12  1.355    8  0.185   16 -0.024
COWBOYS    3 3 1 222 206  0.003  3.450   19 -0.018   18 -0.000   12  0.041   18 0.4974    1  1.740    1  0.731   31 -0.650
COMMANDERS 3 4 0 180 170 -0.003  3.394   21 -0.065   21 -0.053   16  0.028   21 0.4857    7  1.425    7  0.231   24 -0.175
GIANTS     2 5 0 153 177  0.138  3.980   24 -0.115   24 -0.106   20 -0.024   24 0.4434   14  1.305   18  0.010   19 -0.059

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   17 11  0 0.607    1  0.489
AFC SOUTH  13 14  0 0.481    2  0.261
NFC NORTH  16  9  1 0.635    3  0.108
AFC WEST   16 13  0 0.552    4  0.105
NFC EAST   13 14  1 0.482    5  0.103
NFC SOUTH  13 14  0 0.481    6 -0.157
AFC EAST   10 17  0 0.370    7 -0.412
AFC NORTH  10 16  0 0.385    8 -0.460

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Oct 24 05:30:10 2025
games through: Thu Oct 23 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.