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
VIKINGS    5 0 0 109  64  0.064  2.363    1  0.135    1  0.140    3  0.094    3 0.6390   31  0.902   31 -0.372    1  0.561 P
49ERS      5 0 0 154  93  0.081  2.284    2  0.133    2  0.139    2  0.115    2 0.6477   12  1.396    7  0.268   21 -0.038 P
CHIEFS     4 0 0 118  77  0.022  1.835    3  0.114    3  0.114    4  0.088    1 0.6489   14  1.330   13  0.150   18  0.026 P
JAGUARS    4 1 0 123  70  0.245  2.691    4  0.104    4  0.103    1  0.124    4 0.6277   26  1.080   22 -0.138    3  0.386 P
BRONCOS    3 2 0  97 111  0.348  3.176    5  0.074    5  0.071   11  0.032    5 0.5961   19  1.212   19 -0.064   11  0.129 P
PATRIOTS   3 2 0 110  94  0.375  3.094    6  0.070    6  0.066    5  0.085    6 0.5755   29  1.036   27 -0.229    2  0.398 P
BILLS      3 1 0 127 107  0.011  1.887    7  0.058    7  0.063    7  0.054   12 0.5199    1  1.668    1  0.619   32 -0.511 P
RAVENS     4 1 0 146 119 -0.273  1.867    8  0.056    8  0.060   16  0.008   14 0.5125   11  1.447    8  0.234   23 -0.219 P
BROWNS     3 2 0  93 112  0.128  2.823   10  0.043    9  0.048   22 -0.016   10 0.5430   24  1.169   24 -0.167   10  0.135 P
PACKERS    3 2 0 104 112  0.131  2.735    9  0.044   10  0.047   13  0.032    8 0.5451   15  1.321   15  0.081   19 -0.017 P
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BEARS      3 2 0 119  96  0.101  2.603   13  0.030   11  0.041   12  0.032    9 0.5446   16  1.256   16 -0.007   14  0.071 P
STEELERS   3 2 0 111 109  0.066  2.617   11  0.034   12  0.041   15  0.012   11 0.5390   17  1.252   17 -0.033   16  0.056 P
BENGALS    3 2 0 128 109  0.121  2.606   12  0.031   13  0.041    8  0.053   15 0.5104   10  1.453    6  0.289   22 -0.182 P
RAIDERS    3 2 0 132 129 -0.009  2.442   15  0.023   14  0.030   18  0.000   13 0.5194    5  1.539    5  0.363   27 -0.363 P
LIONS      3 2 0 164 148 -0.036  2.325   14  0.024   15  0.030   10  0.035   18 0.5026    2  1.627    2  0.535   31 -0.465 P
SEAHAWKS   3 2 0 134 105 -0.010  2.247   16  0.021   16  0.027    6  0.060   17 0.5061   13  1.346   14  0.144   20 -0.024 P
RAMS       2 2 0  85  83  0.097  2.075   17  0.012   17  0.017    9  0.041    7 0.5464   22  1.192   20 -0.082    9  0.163 P
GIANTS     3 1 1 109 106 -0.482  1.640   18 -0.005   18  0.012   28 -0.064   20 0.4676   23  1.170   26 -0.214   13  0.087 P
PANTHERS   2 2 0 121 109  0.069  2.048   19 -0.012   19  0.007   14  0.030   16 0.5073    3  1.590    3  0.471   29 -0.412 P
FALCONS    2 3 0 119 122  0.016  2.547   20 -0.045   20 -0.017   19 -0.002   19 0.4775   18  1.250   18 -0.049   17  0.044 P
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
COLTS      2 3 0 124 138 -0.044  2.431   21 -0.049   21 -0.022   21 -0.009   21 0.4570    9  1.453   10  0.227   24 -0.245 P
EAGLES     2 3 0  92 112 -0.145  2.360   22 -0.050   22 -0.025   25 -0.035   23 0.4518   20  1.206   23 -0.139   15  0.069 P
JETS       2 3 0  93  96 -0.118  2.293   23 -0.057   23 -0.032   23 -0.021   22 0.4537   30  1.016   29 -0.359    5  0.317 P
COWBOYS    2 3 0 138 136 -0.238  2.017   24 -0.064   24 -0.043   24 -0.026   28 0.4017    4  1.567    4  0.381   30 -0.432 P
BUCCANEERS 1 4 0 100 112  0.089  2.698   25 -0.069   25 -0.063   17  0.003   26 0.4288   21  1.195   21 -0.115   12  0.121 P
SAINTS     1 4 0 118 151  0.050  2.707   26 -0.071   26 -0.064   26 -0.042   25 0.4290    7  1.479    9  0.232   25 -0.317 P
COMMANDERS 1 3 1 115 149 -0.229  2.188   27 -0.073   27 -0.070   30 -0.084   29 0.3949    8  1.464   12  0.167   26 -0.335 P
CARDINALS  1 4 0 108 162 -0.075  2.597   28 -0.076   28 -0.072   31 -0.088   27 0.4037    6  1.492   11  0.205   28 -0.381 P
TEXANS     1 4 0 110 112 -0.155  2.185   29 -0.086   29 -0.087   20 -0.005   31 0.3421   25  1.150   25 -0.180    8  0.170 P
DOLPHINS   0 5 0  70 132  0.330  3.397   30 -0.091   30 -0.088   27 -0.056   24 0.4330   28  1.039   30 -0.366    6  0.254 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 5 0  84 129 -0.092  2.554   31 -0.120   31 -0.128   29 -0.072   30 0.3482   27  1.067   28 -0.349    7  0.206 P
TITANS     0 5 0  58 109 -0.372  2.011   32 -0.141   32 -0.156   32 -0.153   32 0.2851   32  0.881   32 -0.642    4  0.337 P

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 0 0 118  77  0.022  1.835    3  0.114    3  0.114    4  0.088    1 0.6489   14  1.330   13  0.150   18  0.026 P
BRONCOS    3 2 0  97 111  0.348  3.176    5  0.074    5  0.071   11  0.032    5 0.5961   19  1.212   19 -0.064   11  0.129 P
RAIDERS    3 2 0 132 129 -0.009  2.442   15  0.023   14  0.030   18  0.000   13 0.5194    5  1.539    5  0.363   27 -0.363 P
CHARGERS   0 5 0  84 129 -0.092  2.554   31 -0.120   31 -0.128   29 -0.072   30 0.3482   27  1.067   28 -0.349    7  0.206 P

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    4 1 0 123  70  0.245  2.691    4  0.104    4  0.103    1  0.124    4 0.6277   26  1.080   22 -0.138    3  0.386 P
COLTS      2 3 0 124 138 -0.044  2.431   21 -0.049   21 -0.022   21 -0.009   21 0.4570    9  1.453   10  0.227   24 -0.245 P
TEXANS     1 4 0 110 112 -0.155  2.185   29 -0.086   29 -0.087   20 -0.005   31 0.3421   25  1.150   25 -0.180    8  0.170 P
TITANS     0 5 0  58 109 -0.372  2.011   32 -0.141   32 -0.156   32 -0.153   32 0.2851   32  0.881   32 -0.642    4  0.337 P

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
RAVENS     4 1 0 146 119 -0.273  1.867    8  0.056    8  0.060   16  0.008   14 0.5125   11  1.447    8  0.234   23 -0.219 P
BROWNS     3 2 0  93 112  0.128  2.823   10  0.043    9  0.048   22 -0.016   10 0.5430   24  1.169   24 -0.167   10  0.135 P
STEELERS   3 2 0 111 109  0.066  2.617   11  0.034   12  0.041   15  0.012   11 0.5390   17  1.252   17 -0.033   16  0.056 P
BENGALS    3 2 0 128 109  0.121  2.606   12  0.031   13  0.041    8  0.053   15 0.5104   10  1.453    6  0.289   22 -0.182 P

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   3 2 0 110  94  0.375  3.094    6  0.070    6  0.066    5  0.085    6 0.5755   29  1.036   27 -0.229    2  0.398 P
BILLS      3 1 0 127 107  0.011  1.887    7  0.058    7  0.063    7  0.054   12 0.5199    1  1.668    1  0.619   32 -0.511 P
JETS       2 3 0  93  96 -0.118  2.293   23 -0.057   23 -0.032   23 -0.021   22 0.4537   30  1.016   29 -0.359    5  0.317 P
DOLPHINS   0 5 0  70 132  0.330  3.397   30 -0.091   30 -0.088   27 -0.056   24 0.4330   28  1.039   30 -0.366    6  0.254 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      5 0 0 154  93  0.081  2.284    2  0.133    2  0.139    2  0.115    2 0.6477   12  1.396    7  0.268   21 -0.038 P
SEAHAWKS   3 2 0 134 105 -0.010  2.247   16  0.021   16  0.027    6  0.060   17 0.5061   13  1.346   14  0.144   20 -0.024 P
RAMS       2 2 0  85  83  0.097  2.075   17  0.012   17  0.017    9  0.041    7 0.5464   22  1.192   20 -0.082    9  0.163 P
CARDINALS  1 4 0 108 162 -0.075  2.597   28 -0.076   28 -0.072   31 -0.088   27 0.4037    6  1.492   11  0.205   28 -0.381 P

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   2 2 0 121 109  0.069  2.048   19 -0.012   19  0.007   14  0.030   16 0.5073    3  1.590    3  0.471   29 -0.412 P
FALCONS    2 3 0 119 122  0.016  2.547   20 -0.045   20 -0.017   19 -0.002   19 0.4775   18  1.250   18 -0.049   17  0.044 P
BUCCANEERS 1 4 0 100 112  0.089  2.698   25 -0.069   25 -0.063   17  0.003   26 0.4288   21  1.195   21 -0.115   12  0.121 P
SAINTS     1 4 0 118 151  0.050  2.707   26 -0.071   26 -0.064   26 -0.042   25 0.4290    7  1.479    9  0.232   25 -0.317 P

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
VIKINGS    5 0 0 109  64  0.064  2.363    1  0.135    1  0.140    3  0.094    3 0.6390   31  0.902   31 -0.372    1  0.561 P
PACKERS    3 2 0 104 112  0.131  2.735    9  0.044   10  0.047   13  0.032    8 0.5451   15  1.321   15  0.081   19 -0.017 P
BEARS      3 2 0 119  96  0.101  2.603   13  0.030   11  0.041   12  0.032    9 0.5446   16  1.256   16 -0.007   14  0.071 P
LIONS      3 2 0 164 148 -0.036  2.325   14  0.024   15  0.030   10  0.035   18 0.5026    2  1.627    2  0.535   31 -0.465 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
GIANTS     3 1 1 109 106 -0.482  1.640   18 -0.005   18  0.012   28 -0.064   20 0.4676   23  1.170   26 -0.214   13  0.087 P
EAGLES     2 3 0  92 112 -0.145  2.360   22 -0.050   22 -0.025   25 -0.035   23 0.4518   20  1.206   23 -0.139   15  0.069 P
COWBOYS    2 3 0 138 136 -0.238  2.017   24 -0.064   24 -0.043   24 -0.026   28 0.4017    4  1.567    4  0.381   30 -0.432 P
COMMANDERS 1 3 1 115 149 -0.229  2.188   27 -0.073   27 -0.070   30 -0.084   29 0.3949    8  1.464   12  0.167   26 -0.335 P

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC NORTH  14  6  0 0.700    1  0.280
NFC WEST   11  8  0 0.579    2  0.200
AFC EAST    8 11  0 0.421    3  0.058
AFC NORTH  13  7  0 0.650    4  0.058
AFC WEST   10  9  0 0.526    5  0.057
NFC SOUTH   6 13  0 0.316    6 -0.051
AFC SOUTH   7 13  0 0.350    7 -0.117
NFC EAST    8 10  2 0.450    8 -0.405

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon Oct 12 05:30:14 2026
games through: Sun Oct 11 2026

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