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  0.065  2.371    1  0.138    1  0.135    3  0.090    2 0.6383   31  0.901   31 -0.384    1  0.564 P
49ERS      5 0 0 154  93  0.065  2.263    2  0.136    2  0.133    2  0.109    3 0.6379   12  1.381    7  0.235   20 -0.017 P
CHIEFS     4 0 0 118  77  0.019  1.835    3  0.112    3  0.109    4  0.083    1 0.6468   14  1.331   13  0.139   17  0.027 P
JAGUARS    4 1 0 123  70  0.241  2.689    4  0.099    4  0.099    1  0.118    4 0.6254   26  1.087   22 -0.142    3  0.379 P
BILLS      4 1 0 164 141  0.062  2.494    5  0.089    5  0.088    7  0.050    7 0.5555    1  1.742    1  0.729   32 -0.629 P
BRONCOS    3 2 0  97 111  0.335  3.156    6  0.064    6  0.066   13  0.028    5 0.5865   20  1.200   20 -0.091    9  0.146 P
PATRIOTS   3 2 0 110  94  0.372  3.095    7  0.060    7  0.063    5  0.080    6 0.5820   29  1.021   27 -0.258    2  0.418 P
RAVENS     4 1 0 146 119 -0.273  1.872    8  0.059    8  0.057   16  0.005   13 0.5123   11  1.445    9  0.222   23 -0.212 P
PACKERS    3 2 0 104 112  0.133  2.743    9  0.043   10  0.044   11  0.029    8 0.5446   15  1.321   15  0.071   19 -0.013 P
BROWNS     3 2 0  93 112  0.129  2.830   10  0.041    9  0.044   22 -0.018   10 0.5429   23  1.168   24 -0.178   10  0.141 P
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STEELERS   3 2 0 111 109  0.067  2.624   11  0.030   12  0.038   15  0.009   11 0.5407   18  1.254   18 -0.040   15  0.057 P
BENGALS    3 2 0 128 109  0.121  2.611   12  0.027   13  0.038    8  0.050   14 0.5108   10  1.454    6  0.279   22 -0.180 P
BEARS      3 2 0 119  96  0.100  2.607   13  0.025   11  0.038   12  0.029    9 0.5431   17  1.257   17 -0.015   14  0.072 P
LIONS      3 2 0 164 148 -0.037  2.328   14  0.016   15  0.026    9  0.032   15 0.5093    2  1.614    2  0.504   31 -0.441 P
RAIDERS    3 2 0 132 129 -0.010  2.445   15  0.016   14  0.027   18 -0.003   12 0.5208    5  1.541    5  0.358   27 -0.363 P
SEAHAWKS   3 2 0 134 105 -0.014  2.244   16  0.013   16  0.023    6  0.056   17 0.5056   13  1.350   14  0.138   21 -0.027 P
GIANTS     3 1 1 109 106 -0.492  1.623   17 -0.001   17  0.008   28 -0.067   20 0.4585   24  1.154   26 -0.243   12  0.110 P
PANTHERS   2 2 0 121 109  0.070  2.054   18 -0.008   18  0.004   14  0.026   16 0.5085    3  1.592    3  0.465   29 -0.412 P
RAMS       2 3 0 119 120  0.099  2.636   19 -0.025   19 -0.012   10  0.029   18 0.5055   16  1.292   16  0.032   18  0.026 P
FALCONS    2 3 0 119 122  0.018  2.555   20 -0.031   20 -0.020   19 -0.005   19 0.4780   19  1.249   19 -0.059   16  0.050 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  2.435   21 -0.037   21 -0.025   21 -0.012   21 0.4574    9  1.455   10  0.219   24 -0.243 P
EAGLES     2 3 0  92 112 -0.156  2.343   22 -0.040   22 -0.028   25 -0.039   23 0.4424   22  1.189   23 -0.171   13  0.094 P
JETS       2 3 0  93  96 -0.117  2.299   23 -0.046   23 -0.034   23 -0.023   22 0.4539   30  1.017   28 -0.366    5  0.320 P
COWBOYS    2 3 0 138 136 -0.240  2.018   24 -0.056   24 -0.045   24 -0.028   28 0.4004    4  1.571    4  0.378   30 -0.434 P
BUCCANEERS 1 4 0 100 112  0.090  2.705   25 -0.062   25 -0.065   17  0.001   26 0.4286   21  1.194   21 -0.125   11  0.126 P
SAINTS     1 4 0 118 151  0.051  2.715   26 -0.064   26 -0.066   26 -0.044   25 0.4307    7  1.482    8  0.227   25 -0.315 P
COMMANDERS 1 3 1 115 149 -0.233  2.185   27 -0.068   27 -0.072   30 -0.086   29 0.3911    8  1.467   12  0.163   26 -0.334 P
CARDINALS  1 4 0 108 162 -0.080  2.593   28 -0.071   28 -0.074   31 -0.089   27 0.4020    6  1.499   11  0.208   28 -0.387 P
TEXANS     1 4 0 110 112 -0.157  2.187   29 -0.085   29 -0.089   20 -0.008   31 0.3485   25  1.136   25 -0.207    8  0.191 P
DOLPHINS   0 5 0  70 132  0.330  3.399   30 -0.090   30 -0.089   27 -0.058   24 0.4308   28  1.041   29 -0.373    6  0.257 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 -0.096  2.550   31 -0.128   31 -0.129   29 -0.074   30 0.3531   27  1.054   30 -0.373    7  0.226 P
TITANS     0 5 0  58 109 -0.375  2.010   32 -0.155   32 -0.157   32 -0.153   32 0.2831   32  0.888   32 -0.642    4  0.336 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  0.019  1.835    3  0.112    3  0.109    4  0.083    1 0.6468   14  1.331   13  0.139   17  0.027 P
BRONCOS    3 2 0  97 111  0.335  3.156    6  0.064    6  0.066   13  0.028    5 0.5865   20  1.200   20 -0.091    9  0.146 P
RAIDERS    3 2 0 132 129 -0.010  2.445   15  0.016   14  0.027   18 -0.003   12 0.5208    5  1.541    5  0.358   27 -0.363 P
CHARGERS   0 5 0  84 129 -0.096  2.550   31 -0.128   31 -0.129   29 -0.074   30 0.3531   27  1.054   30 -0.373    7  0.226 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  0.241  2.689    4  0.099    4  0.099    1  0.118    4 0.6254   26  1.087   22 -0.142    3  0.379 P
COLTS      2 3 0 124 138 -0.044  2.435   21 -0.037   21 -0.025   21 -0.012   21 0.4574    9  1.455   10  0.219   24 -0.243 P
TEXANS     1 4 0 110 112 -0.157  2.187   29 -0.085   29 -0.089   20 -0.008   31 0.3485   25  1.136   25 -0.207    8  0.191 P
TITANS     0 5 0  58 109 -0.375  2.010   32 -0.155   32 -0.157   32 -0.153   32 0.2831   32  0.888   32 -0.642    4  0.336 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  1.872    8  0.059    8  0.057   16  0.005   13 0.5123   11  1.445    9  0.222   23 -0.212 P
BROWNS     3 2 0  93 112  0.129  2.830   10  0.041    9  0.044   22 -0.018   10 0.5429   23  1.168   24 -0.178   10  0.141 P
STEELERS   3 2 0 111 109  0.067  2.624   11  0.030   12  0.038   15  0.009   11 0.5407   18  1.254   18 -0.040   15  0.057 P
BENGALS    3 2 0 128 109  0.121  2.611   12  0.027   13  0.038    8  0.050   14 0.5108   10  1.454    6  0.279   22 -0.180 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
BILLS      4 1 0 164 141  0.062  2.494    5  0.089    5  0.088    7  0.050    7 0.5555    1  1.742    1  0.729   32 -0.629 P
PATRIOTS   3 2 0 110  94  0.372  3.095    7  0.060    7  0.063    5  0.080    6 0.5820   29  1.021   27 -0.258    2  0.418 P
JETS       2 3 0  93  96 -0.117  2.299   23 -0.046   23 -0.034   23 -0.023   22 0.4539   30  1.017   28 -0.366    5  0.320 P
DOLPHINS   0 5 0  70 132  0.330  3.399   30 -0.090   30 -0.089   27 -0.058   24 0.4308   28  1.041   29 -0.373    6  0.257 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  0.065  2.263    2  0.136    2  0.133    2  0.109    3 0.6379   12  1.381    7  0.235   20 -0.017 P
SEAHAWKS   3 2 0 134 105 -0.014  2.244   16  0.013   16  0.023    6  0.056   17 0.5056   13  1.350   14  0.138   21 -0.027 P
RAMS       2 3 0 119 120  0.099  2.636   19 -0.025   19 -0.012   10  0.029   18 0.5055   16  1.292   16  0.032   18  0.026 P
CARDINALS  1 4 0 108 162 -0.080  2.593   28 -0.071   28 -0.074   31 -0.089   27 0.4020    6  1.499   11  0.208   28 -0.387 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  0.070  2.054   18 -0.008   18  0.004   14  0.026   16 0.5085    3  1.592    3  0.465   29 -0.412 P
FALCONS    2 3 0 119 122  0.018  2.555   20 -0.031   20 -0.020   19 -0.005   19 0.4780   19  1.249   19 -0.059   16  0.050 P
BUCCANEERS 1 4 0 100 112  0.090  2.705   25 -0.062   25 -0.065   17  0.001   26 0.4286   21  1.194   21 -0.125   11  0.126 P
SAINTS     1 4 0 118 151  0.051  2.715   26 -0.064   26 -0.066   26 -0.044   25 0.4307    7  1.482    8  0.227   25 -0.315 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  0.065  2.371    1  0.138    1  0.135    3  0.090    2 0.6383   31  0.901   31 -0.384    1  0.564 P
PACKERS    3 2 0 104 112  0.133  2.743    9  0.043   10  0.044   11  0.029    8 0.5446   15  1.321   15  0.071   19 -0.013 P
BEARS      3 2 0 119  96  0.100  2.607   13  0.025   11  0.038   12  0.029    9 0.5431   17  1.257   17 -0.015   14  0.072 P
LIONS      3 2 0 164 148 -0.037  2.328   14  0.016   15  0.026    9  0.032   15 0.5093    2  1.614    2  0.504   31 -0.441 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 -0.492  1.623   17 -0.001   17  0.008   28 -0.067   20 0.4585   24  1.154   26 -0.243   12  0.110 P
EAGLES     2 3 0  92 112 -0.156  2.343   22 -0.040   22 -0.028   25 -0.039   23 0.4424   22  1.189   23 -0.171   13  0.094 P
COWBOYS    2 3 0 138 136 -0.240  2.018   24 -0.056   24 -0.045   24 -0.028   28 0.4004    4  1.571    4  0.378   30 -0.434 P
COMMANDERS 1 3 1 115 149 -0.233  2.185   27 -0.068   27 -0.072   30 -0.086   29 0.3911    8  1.467   12  0.163   26 -0.334 P

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC NORTH  14  6  0 0.700    1  0.281
NFC WEST   11  9  0 0.550    2  0.182
AFC NORTH  13  7  0 0.650    3  0.059
AFC EAST    9 11  0 0.450    4  0.056
AFC WEST   10  9  0 0.526    5  0.053
NFC SOUTH   6 13  0 0.316    6 -0.049
AFC SOUTH   7 13  0 0.350    7 -0.118
NFC EAST    8 10  2 0.450    8 -0.411

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.125 points in main ratings (0.109 for semineutral)
     0.021 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 13 05:30:19 2026
games through: Mon Oct 12 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.