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  0.253  9.310    1  0.693    1  0.666    1  0.678    1 0.6217   21  1.233    2  0.614    1  0.742
JAGUARS    13  4  0 474 336  0.176  8.920    2  0.551    2  0.531    3  0.500    2 0.5924   15  1.344    3  0.585    5  0.414
BRONCOS    14  3  0 401 311 -0.082  7.615    3  0.518    3  0.516    8  0.202    6 0.5804   24  1.156   14  0.039    6  0.365
RAMS       12  5  0 518 346  0.289  9.661    4  0.486    5  0.484    2  0.580    3 0.5893    7  1.453    1  0.821    7  0.339
49ERS      12  5  0 437 371  0.222  9.522    5  0.455    4  0.494    6  0.277    5 0.5817   12  1.357    9  0.381   10  0.172
TEXANS     12  5  0 404 295  0.257  9.558    6  0.452    6  0.477    4  0.379    4 0.5842   26  1.063   13  0.103    2  0.655
PATRIOTS   14  3  0 490 320 -0.256  6.425    7  0.359    7  0.369    5  0.310    7 0.5724   13  1.354    8  0.410    9  0.210
BILLS      12  5  0 481 365 -0.109  7.458    8  0.261    8  0.267    7  0.218    8 0.5552    5  1.491    5  0.514   19 -0.078
EAGLES     11  6  0 379 325 -0.001  8.344    9  0.233    9  0.233   10  0.135   10 0.5349   27  1.053   22 -0.154    4  0.423
CHARGERS   11  6  0 368 340 -0.042  8.208   10  0.217   10  0.218   15  0.029    9 0.5363   23  1.172   20 -0.113   11  0.171
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BEARS      11  6  0 441 415 -0.081  7.922   11  0.199   11  0.199   12  0.089   11 0.5312    6  1.467   10  0.350   20 -0.173
STEELERS   10  7  0 397 387 -0.037  8.289   12  0.126   12  0.129   17 -0.017   12 0.5254   16  1.291   17 -0.003   16 -0.031
PACKERS     9  7  1 391 360 -0.055  8.112   13  0.065   13  0.053   16 -0.006   14 0.5087   22  1.205   19 -0.106   15  0.093
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413  0.008  8.421   14  0.053   14  0.044   13  0.080   17 0.5018    4  1.523    7  0.425   25 -0.264
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.198  9.405   15  0.049   15  0.042    9  0.170   13 0.5113    3  1.525    4  0.518   21 -0.178
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.023  8.368   16  0.044   16  0.034   14  0.080   15 0.5059   31  0.984   24 -0.289    3  0.449
BUCCANEERS  8  9  0 380 411  0.038  8.867   17  0.008   17 -0.001   20 -0.096   16 0.5050   11  1.374   15  0.032   23 -0.224
PANTHERS    8  9  0 311 380  0.001  8.812   18 -0.027   18 -0.026   22 -0.152   18 0.5017   29  1.033   28 -0.463   12  0.160
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.026  8.560   19 -0.062   19 -0.057   19 -0.089   19 0.4948   20  1.248   21 -0.132   17 -0.045
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.021  8.294   20 -0.078   20 -0.074   11  0.109   20 0.4870    8  1.395   11  0.266   18 -0.049
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 -0.147  7.722   21 -0.180   21 -0.181   25 -0.224   22 0.4565    1  1.765    6  0.506   32 -0.955
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.174  7.758   22 -0.236   22 -0.238   28 -0.309   21 0.4631   18  1.251   26 -0.348   26 -0.270
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328  0.003  8.438   23 -0.260   23 -0.262   18 -0.033   25 0.4494   25  1.071   25 -0.300    8  0.234
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.078  8.375   24 -0.280   24 -0.284   23 -0.171   23 0.4562   28  1.035   29 -0.481   13  0.139
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.086  8.324   25 -0.283   25 -0.286   24 -0.202   24 0.4506    2  1.580   12  0.230   30 -0.634
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.065  8.431   26 -0.360   26 -0.366   27 -0.283   27 0.4249   14  1.347   23 -0.193   29 -0.373
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.174  7.807   27 -0.432   27 -0.443   29 -0.327   28 0.4233   32  0.924   31 -0.764   14  0.109
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.179 10.091   28 -0.449   29 -0.458   26 -0.232   26 0.4262    9  1.382   18 -0.093   28 -0.371
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.145 10.190   29 -0.451   28 -0.451   30 -0.361   29 0.4210   19  1.248   27 -0.405   27 -0.318
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.046  8.416   30 -0.470   30 -0.474   21 -0.111   30 0.4098   10  1.377   16  0.021   24 -0.243
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.061  8.926   31 -0.567   31 -0.549   31 -0.542   32 0.3966   30  1.011   32 -0.879   22 -0.204
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.153  8.288   32 -0.631   32 -0.619   32 -0.676   31 0.4010   17  1.274   30 -0.685   31 -0.668

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    14  3  0 401 311 -0.082  7.615    3  0.518    3  0.516    8  0.202    6 0.5804   24  1.156   14  0.039    6  0.365
CHARGERS   11  6  0 368 340 -0.042  8.208   10  0.217   10  0.218   15  0.029    9 0.5363   23  1.172   20 -0.113   11  0.171
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328  0.003  8.438   23 -0.260   23 -0.262   18 -0.033   25 0.4494   25  1.071   25 -0.300    8  0.234
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.061  8.926   31 -0.567   31 -0.549   31 -0.542   32 0.3966   30  1.011   32 -0.879   22 -0.204

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    13  4  0 474 336  0.176  8.920    2  0.551    2  0.531    3  0.500    2 0.5924   15  1.344    3  0.585    5  0.414
TEXANS     12  5  0 404 295  0.257  9.558    6  0.452    6  0.477    4  0.379    4 0.5842   26  1.063   13  0.103    2  0.655
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.198  9.405   15  0.049   15  0.042    9  0.170   13 0.5113    3  1.525    4  0.518   21 -0.178
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.145 10.190   29 -0.451   28 -0.451   30 -0.361   29 0.4210   19  1.248   27 -0.405   27 -0.318

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   10  7  0 397 387 -0.037  8.289   12  0.126   12  0.129   17 -0.017   12 0.5254   16  1.291   17 -0.003   16 -0.031
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.021  8.294   20 -0.078   20 -0.074   11  0.109   20 0.4870    8  1.395   11  0.266   18 -0.049
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.086  8.324   25 -0.283   25 -0.286   24 -0.202   24 0.4506    2  1.580   12  0.230   30 -0.634
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.174  7.807   27 -0.432   27 -0.443   29 -0.327   28 0.4233   32  0.924   31 -0.764   14  0.109

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   14  3  0 490 320 -0.256  6.425    7  0.359    7  0.369    5  0.310    7 0.5724   13  1.354    8  0.410    9  0.210
BILLS      12  5  0 481 365 -0.109  7.458    8  0.261    8  0.267    7  0.218    8 0.5552    5  1.491    5  0.514   19 -0.078
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.174  7.758   22 -0.236   22 -0.238   28 -0.309   21 0.4631   18  1.251   26 -0.348   26 -0.270
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.153  8.288   32 -0.631   32 -0.619   32 -0.676   31 0.4010   17  1.274   30 -0.685   31 -0.668

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  0.253  9.310    1  0.693    1  0.666    1  0.678    1 0.6217   21  1.233    2  0.614    1  0.742
RAMS       12  5  0 518 346  0.289  9.661    4  0.486    5  0.484    2  0.580    3 0.5893    7  1.453    1  0.821    7  0.339
49ERS      12  5  0 437 371  0.222  9.522    5  0.455    4  0.494    6  0.277    5 0.5817   12  1.357    9  0.381   10  0.172
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.179 10.091   28 -0.449   29 -0.458   26 -0.232   26 0.4262    9  1.382   18 -0.093   28 -0.371

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  0.038  8.867   17  0.008   17 -0.001   20 -0.096   16 0.5050   11  1.374   15  0.032   23 -0.224
PANTHERS    8  9  0 311 380  0.001  8.812   18 -0.027   18 -0.026   22 -0.152   18 0.5017   29  1.033   28 -0.463   12  0.160
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.026  8.560   19 -0.062   19 -0.057   19 -0.089   19 0.4948   20  1.248   21 -0.132   17 -0.045
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.078  8.375   24 -0.280   24 -0.284   23 -0.171   23 0.4562   28  1.035   29 -0.481   13  0.139

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  6  0 441 415 -0.081  7.922   11  0.199   11  0.199   12  0.089   11 0.5312    6  1.467   10  0.350   20 -0.173
PACKERS     9  7  1 391 360 -0.055  8.112   13  0.065   13  0.053   16 -0.006   14 0.5087   22  1.205   19 -0.106   15  0.093
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413  0.008  8.421   14  0.053   14  0.044   13  0.080   17 0.5018    4  1.523    7  0.425   25 -0.264
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.023  8.368   16  0.044   16  0.034   14  0.080   15 0.5059   31  0.984   24 -0.289    3  0.449

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  6  0 379 325 -0.001  8.344    9  0.233    9  0.233   10  0.135   10 0.5349   27  1.053   22 -0.154    4  0.423
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.147  7.722   21 -0.180   21 -0.181   25 -0.224   22 0.4565    1  1.765    6  0.506   32 -0.955
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.065  8.431   26 -0.360   26 -0.366   27 -0.283   27 0.4249   14  1.347   23 -0.193   29 -0.373
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.046  8.416   30 -0.470   30 -0.474   21 -0.111   30 0.4098   10  1.377   16  0.021   24 -0.243

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   41 27  0 0.603    1  0.555
AFC SOUTH  36 32  0 0.529    2  0.295
NFC NORTH  38 29  1 0.566    3  0.085
AFC WEST   34 34  0 0.500    4 -0.075
AFC EAST   36 32  0 0.529    5 -0.173
NFC EAST   27 40  1 0.404    6 -0.192
NFC SOUTH  30 38  0 0.441    7 -0.214
AFC NORTH  29 39  0 0.426    8 -0.225

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.167 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 Jan  5 05:30:08 2026
games through: Sun Jan  4 2026

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