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   12  3  0 443 279  0.261  8.182    1  0.579    1  0.619    2  0.635    1 0.6059   13  1.335    2  0.697    2  0.573
RAMS       11  4  0 457 299  0.368  8.938    2  0.541    2  0.569    1  0.692    2 0.6045    6  1.438    1  0.900    3  0.483
BRONCOS    12  2  0 342 261 -0.117  6.051    3  0.522    3  0.545   12  0.140    3 0.5871   24  1.204   16  0.028    8  0.253
49ERS      10  4  0 344 293  0.177  7.530    4  0.445    4  0.466    6  0.253    6 0.5721   18  1.285    9  0.247    7  0.259
JAGUARS    10  4  0 376 292  0.202  7.553    5  0.437    5  0.437    4  0.393    4 0.5771   11  1.378    6  0.514    6  0.271
TEXANS      9  5  0 323 228  0.359  8.339    6  0.423    6  0.404    3  0.487    5 0.5742   32  0.963   12  0.083    1  0.891
BILLS      10  4  0 411 324 -0.064  6.398    7  0.304    7  0.293    7  0.215    7 0.5614    2  1.575    4  0.628   21 -0.199
CHARGERS   10  4  0 315 284 -0.087  6.479    8  0.302    8  0.292   15  0.052    9 0.5485   19  1.239   18 -0.015   11  0.119
PATRIOTS   11  3  0 382 276 -0.307  5.131    9  0.276    9  0.260   13  0.120    8 0.5550   12  1.338   10  0.187   15  0.053
EAGLES      9  5  0 320 271  0.051  7.096   10  0.262   10  0.252    9  0.193   10 0.5439   28  1.065   22 -0.092    4  0.478
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BEARS      10  4  0 365 338 -0.197  5.908   11  0.249   11  0.238   14  0.056   12 0.5400    5  1.471    8  0.312   22 -0.200
PACKERS     9  4  1 348 281 -0.086  6.373   12  0.239   12  0.211   11  0.152   11 0.5429   23  1.214   14  0.052    9  0.252
COLTS       8  6  0 392 303  0.188  7.442   13  0.209   13  0.185    5  0.281   13 0.5316    7  1.430    7  0.477   14  0.085
LIONS       8  6  0 428 345  0.019  6.829   14  0.134   14  0.101   10  0.179   15 0.5136    3  1.573    5  0.588   24 -0.230
BUCCANEERS  7  7  0 327 354  0.103  7.622   15  0.094   15  0.081   18 -0.055   16 0.5130    8  1.423   11  0.132   26 -0.242
STEELERS    8  6  0 336 326 -0.084  6.592   16  0.084   16  0.068   17 -0.022   14 0.5215   16  1.315   17  0.013   17 -0.056
PANTHERS    7  7  0 264 317 -0.037  7.063   17  0.019   17  0.001   22 -0.159   17 0.5024   27  1.085   27 -0.420   13  0.103
CHIEFS      6  8  0 328 268  0.114  7.390   18 -0.054   18 -0.072    8  0.202   18 0.4838   25  1.106   19 -0.033    5  0.437
RAVENS      7  7  0 335 320 -0.096  6.458   19 -0.074   19 -0.077   16  0.027   19 0.4837   17  1.305   15  0.048   16  0.006
COWBOYS     6  7  1 407 420 -0.101  6.584   20 -0.106   20 -0.109   21 -0.102   21 0.4734    1  1.784    3  0.649   32 -0.852
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
VIKINGS     6  8  0 289 307 -0.071  6.817   21 -0.133   21 -0.146   20 -0.100   20 0.4779   26  1.094   26 -0.350   10  0.151
DOLPHINS    6  8  0 296 324 -0.188  6.214   22 -0.202   22 -0.220   23 -0.161   22 0.4621   20  1.232   23 -0.237   18 -0.084
FALCONS     5  9  0 281 341 -0.058  6.961   23 -0.249   23 -0.258   24 -0.198   23 0.4581   21  1.230   24 -0.277   19 -0.119
CARDINALS   3 11  0 302 388  0.252  8.586   24 -0.333   25 -0.343   19 -0.086   25 0.4428   10  1.395   13  0.060   25 -0.231
SAINTS      4 10  0 226 332 -0.015  7.390   25 -0.353   24 -0.337   26 -0.279   24 0.4448   31  0.973   30 -0.672   12  0.114
BENGALS     4 10  0 314 437 -0.073  7.120   26 -0.377   26 -0.362   29 -0.404   26 0.4399    4  1.541   20 -0.044   31 -0.764
COMMANDERS  4 10  0 291 375 -0.085  6.926   27 -0.397   27 -0.383   27 -0.339   27 0.4212   15  1.315   25 -0.304   28 -0.374
TITANS      2 12  0 225 394  0.168  8.653   28 -0.488   28 -0.478   28 -0.373   28 0.4158   22  1.216   29 -0.470   27 -0.277
GIANTS      2 12  0 300 396  0.038  7.535   29 -0.561   29 -0.559   25 -0.260   30 0.3968    9  1.420   21 -0.079   29 -0.442
JETS        3 11  0 276 397 -0.210  6.413   30 -0.571   30 -0.573   31 -0.509   29 0.4026   14  1.320   28 -0.467   30 -0.550
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BROWNS      3 11  0 226 332 -0.241  6.244   31 -0.591   31 -0.590   30 -0.487   32 0.3919   29  1.005   31 -0.843   20 -0.130
RAIDERS     2 12  0 196 363 -0.099  7.308   32 -0.628   32 -0.610   32 -0.614   31 0.3954   30  0.978   32 -1.001   23 -0.226

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    12  2  0 342 261 -0.117  6.051    3  0.522    3  0.545   12  0.140    3 0.5871   24  1.204   16  0.028    8  0.253
CHARGERS   10  4  0 315 284 -0.087  6.479    8  0.302    8  0.292   15  0.052    9 0.5485   19  1.239   18 -0.015   11  0.119
CHIEFS      6  8  0 328 268  0.114  7.390   18 -0.054   18 -0.072    8  0.202   18 0.4838   25  1.106   19 -0.033    5  0.437
RAIDERS     2 12  0 196 363 -0.099  7.308   32 -0.628   32 -0.610   32 -0.614   31 0.3954   30  0.978   32 -1.001   23 -0.226

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    10  4  0 376 292  0.202  7.553    5  0.437    5  0.437    4  0.393    4 0.5771   11  1.378    6  0.514    6  0.271
TEXANS      9  5  0 323 228  0.359  8.339    6  0.423    6  0.404    3  0.487    5 0.5742   32  0.963   12  0.083    1  0.891
COLTS       8  6  0 392 303  0.188  7.442   13  0.209   13  0.185    5  0.281   13 0.5316    7  1.430    7  0.477   14  0.085
TITANS      2 12  0 225 394  0.168  8.653   28 -0.488   28 -0.478   28 -0.373   28 0.4158   22  1.216   29 -0.470   27 -0.277

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    8  6  0 336 326 -0.084  6.592   16  0.084   16  0.068   17 -0.022   14 0.5215   16  1.315   17  0.013   17 -0.056
RAVENS      7  7  0 335 320 -0.096  6.458   19 -0.074   19 -0.077   16  0.027   19 0.4837   17  1.305   15  0.048   16  0.006
BENGALS     4 10  0 314 437 -0.073  7.120   26 -0.377   26 -0.362   29 -0.404   26 0.4399    4  1.541   20 -0.044   31 -0.764
BROWNS      3 11  0 226 332 -0.241  6.244   31 -0.591   31 -0.590   30 -0.487   32 0.3919   29  1.005   31 -0.843   20 -0.130

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      10  4  0 411 324 -0.064  6.398    7  0.304    7  0.293    7  0.215    7 0.5614    2  1.575    4  0.628   21 -0.199
PATRIOTS   11  3  0 382 276 -0.307  5.131    9  0.276    9  0.260   13  0.120    8 0.5550   12  1.338   10  0.187   15  0.053
DOLPHINS    6  8  0 296 324 -0.188  6.214   22 -0.202   22 -0.220   23 -0.161   22 0.4621   20  1.232   23 -0.237   18 -0.084
JETS        3 11  0 276 397 -0.210  6.413   30 -0.571   30 -0.573   31 -0.509   29 0.4026   14  1.320   28 -0.467   30 -0.550

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   12  3  0 443 279  0.261  8.182    1  0.579    1  0.619    2  0.635    1 0.6059   13  1.335    2  0.697    2  0.573
RAMS       11  4  0 457 299  0.368  8.938    2  0.541    2  0.569    1  0.692    2 0.6045    6  1.438    1  0.900    3  0.483
49ERS      10  4  0 344 293  0.177  7.530    4  0.445    4  0.466    6  0.253    6 0.5721   18  1.285    9  0.247    7  0.259
CARDINALS   3 11  0 302 388  0.252  8.586   24 -0.333   25 -0.343   19 -0.086   25 0.4428   10  1.395   13  0.060   25 -0.231

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  7  7  0 327 354  0.103  7.622   15  0.094   15  0.081   18 -0.055   16 0.5130    8  1.423   11  0.132   26 -0.242
PANTHERS    7  7  0 264 317 -0.037  7.063   17  0.019   17  0.001   22 -0.159   17 0.5024   27  1.085   27 -0.420   13  0.103
FALCONS     5  9  0 281 341 -0.058  6.961   23 -0.249   23 -0.258   24 -0.198   23 0.4581   21  1.230   24 -0.277   19 -0.119
SAINTS      4 10  0 226 332 -0.015  7.390   25 -0.353   24 -0.337   26 -0.279   24 0.4448   31  0.973   30 -0.672   12  0.114

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      10  4  0 365 338 -0.197  5.908   11  0.249   11  0.238   14  0.056   12 0.5400    5  1.471    8  0.312   22 -0.200
PACKERS     9  4  1 348 281 -0.086  6.373   12  0.239   12  0.211   11  0.152   11 0.5429   23  1.214   14  0.052    9  0.252
LIONS       8  6  0 428 345  0.019  6.829   14  0.134   14  0.101   10  0.179   15 0.5136    3  1.573    5  0.588   24 -0.230
VIKINGS     6  8  0 289 307 -0.071  6.817   21 -0.133   21 -0.146   20 -0.100   20 0.4779   26  1.094   26 -0.350   10  0.151

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      9  5  0 320 271  0.051  7.096   10  0.262   10  0.252    9  0.193   10 0.5439   28  1.065   22 -0.092    4  0.478
COWBOYS     6  7  1 407 420 -0.101  6.584   20 -0.106   20 -0.109   21 -0.102   21 0.4734    1  1.784    3  0.649   32 -0.852
COMMANDERS  4 10  0 291 375 -0.085  6.926   27 -0.397   27 -0.383   27 -0.339   27 0.4212   15  1.315   25 -0.304   28 -0.374
GIANTS      2 12  0 300 396  0.038  7.535   29 -0.561   29 -0.559   25 -0.260   30 0.3968    9  1.420   21 -0.079   29 -0.442

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   36 22  0 0.621    1  0.598
AFC SOUTH  29 27  0 0.518    2  0.339
NFC NORTH  33 22  1 0.598    3  0.082
AFC WEST   30 26  0 0.536    4 -0.026
AFC EAST   30 26  0 0.536    5 -0.152
NFC EAST   21 34  1 0.384    6 -0.186
NFC SOUTH  23 33  0 0.411    7 -0.266
AFC NORTH  22 34  0 0.393    8 -0.361

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Dec 19 05:30:12 2025
games through: Thu Dec 18 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.