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  0.246  9.352    1  0.671    1  0.665    1  0.660    1 0.6217   21  1.228    2  0.590    2  0.730
RAMS       13  5  0 552 377  0.271 10.239    2  0.530    3  0.518    2  0.543    2 0.5939    5  1.497    1  0.850    8  0.237
49ERS      13  5  0 460 390  0.231 10.227    3  0.514    2  0.539    6  0.292    4 0.5887   12  1.352    8  0.389   10  0.195
TEXANS     13  5  0 434 301  0.250 10.098    4  0.501    4  0.510    3  0.461    3 0.5894   28  1.044   13  0.163    1  0.759
BRONCOS    14  3  0 401 311 -0.098  7.579    5  0.492    5  0.508    8  0.186    7 0.5764   23  1.160   15  0.029    6  0.343
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.174  9.568    6  0.473    6  0.467    4  0.457    5 0.5805   14  1.344    4  0.543    5  0.371
PATRIOTS   15  3  0 506 323 -0.242  6.936    7  0.418    7  0.403    5  0.357    6 0.5790   15  1.294    9  0.375    7  0.339
BILLS      13  5  0 508 389 -0.046  8.342    8  0.354    8  0.343    7  0.260    8 0.5668    6  1.494    3  0.562   17 -0.041
BEARS      12  6  0 472 442 -0.100  8.328    9  0.238    9  0.225   12  0.078    9 0.5350    7  1.487   10  0.369   22 -0.213
EAGLES     11  7  0 398 348  0.000  8.939   10  0.192   10  0.179   10  0.113   11 0.5259   27  1.053   21 -0.175    4  0.401
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.028  8.917   11  0.182   11  0.172   16 -0.029   10 0.5271   24  1.110   23 -0.249   11  0.190
STEELERS   10  8  0 403 417 -0.025  9.023   12  0.091   12  0.088   20 -0.106   12 0.5186   16  1.281   19 -0.106   19 -0.107
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.189  9.410   13  0.050   13  0.034    9  0.161   13 0.5097    3  1.527    5  0.512   20 -0.190
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413 -0.012  8.361   14  0.048   14  0.029   14  0.062   17 0.4993    4  1.517    7  0.398   25 -0.273
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.044  8.297   15  0.036   15  0.019   13  0.064   15 0.5030   31  0.985   25 -0.304    3  0.431
BUCCANEERS  8  9  0 380 411  0.053  9.012   16  0.021   16  0.007   19 -0.087   14 0.5063   11  1.373   14  0.039   23 -0.213
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.056  8.663   17  0.018   17  0.001   15 -0.020   16 0.4995   22  1.225   17 -0.094   15  0.053
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.047  9.683   18 -0.036   18 -0.050   21 -0.107   18 0.4975   25  1.086   27 -0.355   13  0.142
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.014  8.688   19 -0.048   19 -0.053   18 -0.084   19 0.4960   20  1.244   20 -0.133   16 -0.035
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.032  8.287   20 -0.079   20 -0.084   11  0.095   20 0.4870    8  1.394   11  0.251   18 -0.062
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 -0.161  7.699   21 -0.185   21 -0.192   26 -0.231   23 0.4527    1  1.763    6  0.495   32 -0.958
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.171  7.845   22 -0.231   22 -0.239   28 -0.303   21 0.4640   18  1.259   26 -0.332   26 -0.274
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.009  8.423   23 -0.266   23 -0.274   17 -0.040   25 0.4465   26  1.076   24 -0.300    9  0.220
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.065  8.513   24 -0.271   24 -0.280   23 -0.163   22 0.4578   29  1.030   29 -0.478   12  0.153
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.100  8.295   25 -0.290   25 -0.299   24 -0.206   24 0.4494    2  1.582   12  0.230   30 -0.642
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.080  8.393   26 -0.371   26 -0.380   27 -0.288   28 0.4214   13  1.347   22 -0.198   29 -0.379
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.186  7.793   27 -0.443   27 -0.456   29 -0.329   27 0.4230   32  0.925   31 -0.764   14  0.106
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.180 10.148   28 -0.453   29 -0.463   25 -0.231   26 0.4262   10  1.376   18 -0.100   28 -0.362
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.142 10.236   29 -0.457   28 -0.458   30 -0.358   29 0.4201   19  1.254   28 -0.394   27 -0.323
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.059  8.397   30 -0.482   30 -0.487   22 -0.118   30 0.4070    9  1.381   16  0.020   24 -0.255
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 -0.074  8.907   31 -0.580   31 -0.560   31 -0.538   32 0.3937   30  1.021   32 -0.864   21 -0.212
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.149  8.388   32 -0.638   32 -0.623   32 -0.659   31 0.4016   17  1.277   30 -0.663   31 -0.654

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 -0.098  7.579    5  0.492    5  0.508    8  0.186    7 0.5764   23  1.160   15  0.029    6  0.343
CHARGERS   11  7  0 371 356 -0.028  8.917   11  0.182   11  0.172   16 -0.029   10 0.5271   24  1.110   23 -0.249   11  0.190
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328 -0.009  8.423   23 -0.266   23 -0.274   17 -0.040   25 0.4465   26  1.076   24 -0.300    9  0.220
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.074  8.907   31 -0.580   31 -0.560   31 -0.538   32 0.3937   30  1.021   32 -0.864   21 -0.212

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
TEXANS     13  5  0 434 301  0.250 10.098    4  0.501    4  0.510    3  0.461    3 0.5894   28  1.044   13  0.163    1  0.759
JAGUARS    13  5  0 498 363  0.174  9.568    6  0.473    6  0.467    4  0.457    5 0.5805   14  1.344    4  0.543    5  0.371
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.189  9.410   13  0.050   13  0.034    9  0.161   13 0.5097    3  1.527    5  0.512   20 -0.190
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.142 10.236   29 -0.457   28 -0.458   30 -0.358   29 0.4201   19  1.254   28 -0.394   27 -0.323

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  8  0 403 417 -0.025  9.023   12  0.091   12  0.088   20 -0.106   12 0.5186   16  1.281   19 -0.106   19 -0.107
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.032  8.287   20 -0.079   20 -0.084   11  0.095   20 0.4870    8  1.394   11  0.251   18 -0.062
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.100  8.295   25 -0.290   25 -0.299   24 -0.206   24 0.4494    2  1.582   12  0.230   30 -0.642
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.186  7.793   27 -0.443   27 -0.456   29 -0.329   27 0.4230   32  0.925   31 -0.764   14  0.106

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   15  3  0 506 323 -0.242  6.936    7  0.418    7  0.403    5  0.357    6 0.5790   15  1.294    9  0.375    7  0.339
BILLS      13  5  0 508 389 -0.046  8.342    8  0.354    8  0.343    7  0.260    8 0.5668    6  1.494    3  0.562   17 -0.041
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.171  7.845   22 -0.231   22 -0.239   28 -0.303   21 0.4640   18  1.259   26 -0.332   26 -0.274
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.149  8.388   32 -0.638   32 -0.623   32 -0.659   31 0.4016   17  1.277   30 -0.663   31 -0.654

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  0.246  9.352    1  0.671    1  0.665    1  0.660    1 0.6217   21  1.228    2  0.590    2  0.730
RAMS       13  5  0 552 377  0.271 10.239    2  0.530    3  0.518    2  0.543    2 0.5939    5  1.497    1  0.850    8  0.237
49ERS      13  5  0 460 390  0.231 10.227    3  0.514    2  0.539    6  0.292    4 0.5887   12  1.352    8  0.389   10  0.195
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.180 10.148   28 -0.453   29 -0.463   25 -0.231   26 0.4262   10  1.376   18 -0.100   28 -0.362

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  0.053  9.012   16  0.021   16  0.007   19 -0.087   14 0.5063   11  1.373   14  0.039   23 -0.213
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.047  9.683   18 -0.036   18 -0.050   21 -0.107   18 0.4975   25  1.086   27 -0.355   13  0.142
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.014  8.688   19 -0.048   19 -0.053   18 -0.084   19 0.4960   20  1.244   20 -0.133   16 -0.035
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.065  8.513   24 -0.271   24 -0.280   23 -0.163   22 0.4578   29  1.030   29 -0.478   12  0.153

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      12  6  0 472 442 -0.100  8.328    9  0.238    9  0.225   12  0.078    9 0.5350    7  1.487   10  0.369   22 -0.213
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413 -0.012  8.361   14  0.048   14  0.029   14  0.062   17 0.4993    4  1.517    7  0.398   25 -0.273
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.044  8.297   15  0.036   15  0.019   13  0.064   15 0.5030   31  0.985   25 -0.304    3  0.431
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.056  8.663   17  0.018   17  0.001   15 -0.020   16 0.4995   22  1.225   17 -0.094   15  0.053

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  7  0 398 348  0.000  8.939   10  0.192   10  0.179   10  0.113   11 0.5259   27  1.053   21 -0.175    4  0.401
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.161  7.699   21 -0.185   21 -0.192   26 -0.231   23 0.4527    1  1.763    6  0.495   32 -0.958
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.080  8.393   26 -0.371   26 -0.380   27 -0.288   28 0.4214   13  1.347   22 -0.198   29 -0.379
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.059  8.397   30 -0.482   30 -0.487   22 -0.118   30 0.4070    9  1.381   16  0.020   24 -0.255

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   43 27  0 0.614    1  0.546
AFC SOUTH  37 33  0 0.529    2  0.301
NFC NORTH  39 30  1 0.564    3  0.067
AFC WEST   34 35  0 0.493    4 -0.100
AFC EAST   38 32  0 0.543    5 -0.147
NFC SOUTH  30 39  0 0.435    6 -0.193
NFC EAST   27 41  1 0.399    7 -0.209
AFC NORTH  29 40  0 0.420    8 -0.255

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.165 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: Tue Jan 13 05:30:08 2026
games through: Mon Jan 12 2026

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