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 PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
49ERS      2 0 43 34  0.189  1.110    4  0.103    3  0.109    6  0.081    1 0.6113   23  1.201   17 -0.030    7  0.193 P
EAGLES     2 0 44 37  0.147  1.067    2  0.106    2  0.110    5  0.086    2 0.6049   27  1.104   22 -0.147    3  0.318 P
PACKERS    2 0 54 31  0.199  1.080    3  0.105    4  0.109    3  0.128    3 0.6040   18  1.242   11  0.070    8  0.186 P
BILLS      2 0 71 50  0.277  1.091    1  0.116    1  0.120    2  0.156    4 0.6031    5  1.455    3  0.393   24 -0.081 P
BUCCANEERS 1 0 23 20  0.299  0.617    7  0.061    7  0.066    7  0.059    5 0.5865   13  1.321    8  0.108   16  0.011 P
BENGALS    2 0 48 43 -0.152  0.840    5  0.081    5  0.083   15  0.018    6 0.5734   12  1.326   10  0.072   19 -0.036 P
RAMS       2 0 47 28 -0.193  0.769    6  0.070    6  0.078    8  0.056    7 0.5620   24  1.191   19 -0.068    9  0.180 P
CHARGERS   1 0 27 21  0.215  0.581   10  0.054   10  0.060   10  0.048    8 0.5556   10  1.338    7  0.119   18 -0.024 P
COLTS      2 0 62 36 -0.268  0.720    9  0.060    8  0.063   14  0.023    9 0.5445   11  1.330    9  0.084   20 -0.039 P
CARDINALS  2 0 47 35 -0.357  0.679    8  0.061    9  0.063   18 -0.014   10 0.5395   19  1.228   21 -0.090   14  0.061 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAIDERS    1 0 20 13 -0.179  0.426   12  0.021   12  0.028   21 -0.040   11 0.5340   30  1.068   30 -0.317    6  0.237 P
RAVENS     1 1 81 58  0.362  1.116   11  0.036   11  0.035    1  0.169   12 0.5337    1  1.706    1  0.795   31 -0.458 P
SEAHAWKS   1 1 44 34  0.111  1.065   14  0.007   14  0.011   11  0.046   13 0.5297   28  1.085   25 -0.211    4  0.303 P
LIONS      1 1 65 48  0.164  1.031   13  0.020   13  0.019    4  0.093   14 0.5141    6  1.408    6  0.263   23 -0.076 P
FALCONS    1 1 42 29  0.050  1.018   15  0.002   17 -0.002   12  0.026   15 0.5085   29  1.083   26 -0.233    5  0.285 P
COWBOYS    1 1 60 61 -0.069  0.941   16  0.000   15  0.002   17 -0.004   16 0.4989    3  1.585    2  0.429   29 -0.438 P
COMMANDERS 1 1 39 33  0.047  1.020   20 -0.008   16 -0.001   16  0.007   17 0.4864   31  1.025   31 -0.321    2  0.334 P
BRONCOS    1 1 48 41 -0.088  0.892   18 -0.003   19 -0.003   13  0.023   18 0.4852   16  1.271   15  0.004   15  0.043 P
STEELERS   1 1 51 63 -0.159  0.884   19 -0.005   20 -0.004   22 -0.041   19 0.4799    4  1.564    4  0.359   30 -0.441 P
VIKINGS    1 1 33 46 -0.191  0.856   17 -0.001   18 -0.002   23 -0.041   20 0.4764   26  1.116   28 -0.260   10  0.177 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAGUARS    1 1 53 41 -0.233  0.794   22 -0.024   21 -0.021   19 -0.017   21 0.4759   14  1.320   12  0.030   22 -0.064 P
PATRIOTS   1 1 46 47 -0.366  0.706   21 -0.014   22 -0.027   25 -0.067   22 0.4695    8  1.356   13  0.029   26 -0.163 P
CHIEFS     0 2 38 47  0.239  1.191   24 -0.048   24 -0.055    9  0.052   23 0.4609   17  1.261   14  0.019   12  0.086 P
TEXANS     0 1  9 14  0.321  0.660   23 -0.042   23 -0.035   20 -0.027   24 0.4569   32  0.932   32 -0.461    1  0.408 P
SAINTS     0 2 34 46 -0.014  1.021   26 -0.086   27 -0.085   24 -0.042   25 0.4315   22  1.203   23 -0.151   13  0.066 P
BROWNS     0 2 33 58  0.247  1.294   25 -0.082   25 -0.074   26 -0.078   26 0.4173   25  1.128   29 -0.282   11  0.126 P
TITANS     0 2 31 53  0.085  1.151   27 -0.091   26 -0.084   27 -0.097   27 0.3992   20  1.223   24 -0.179   17 -0.014 P
DOLPHINS   0 2 35 66 -0.188  0.937   29 -0.095   31 -0.095   30 -0.115   28 0.3989    9  1.344   18 -0.035   27 -0.196 P
JETS       0 2 42 64 -0.029  1.081   30 -0.098   29 -0.092   29 -0.111   29 0.3970   15  1.313   20 -0.074   25 -0.147 P
PANTHERS   0 2 32 53 -0.032  1.073   32 -0.109   32 -0.099   32 -0.143   30 0.3876   21  1.210   27 -0.243   21 -0.044 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BEARS      0 2 45 79 -0.047  1.064   28 -0.092   28 -0.089   28 -0.108   31 0.3869    2  1.591    5  0.335   32 -0.551 P
GIANTS     0 2 43 61  0.040  1.125   31 -0.103   30 -0.093   31 -0.121   32 0.3811    7  1.369   16 -0.007   28 -0.236 P

AFC WEST
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CHARGERS   1 0 27 21  0.215  0.581   10  0.054   10  0.060   10  0.048    8 0.5556   10  1.338    7  0.119   18 -0.024 P
RAIDERS    1 0 20 13 -0.179  0.426   12  0.021   12  0.028   21 -0.040   11 0.5340   30  1.068   30 -0.317    6  0.237 P
BRONCOS    1 1 48 41 -0.088  0.892   18 -0.003   19 -0.003   13  0.023   18 0.4852   16  1.271   15  0.004   15  0.043 P
CHIEFS     0 2 38 47  0.239  1.191   24 -0.048   24 -0.055    9  0.052   23 0.4609   17  1.261   14  0.019   12  0.086 P

AFC SOUTH
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
COLTS      2 0 62 36 -0.268  0.720    9  0.060    8  0.063   14  0.023    9 0.5445   11  1.330    9  0.084   20 -0.039 P
JAGUARS    1 1 53 41 -0.233  0.794   22 -0.024   21 -0.021   19 -0.017   21 0.4759   14  1.320   12  0.030   22 -0.064 P
TEXANS     0 1  9 14  0.321  0.660   23 -0.042   23 -0.035   20 -0.027   24 0.4569   32  0.932   32 -0.461    1  0.408 P
TITANS     0 2 31 53  0.085  1.151   27 -0.091   26 -0.084   27 -0.097   27 0.3992   20  1.223   24 -0.179   17 -0.014 P

AFC NORTH
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BENGALS    2 0 48 43 -0.152  0.840    5  0.081    5  0.083   15  0.018    6 0.5734   12  1.326   10  0.072   19 -0.036 P
RAVENS     1 1 81 58  0.362  1.116   11  0.036   11  0.035    1  0.169   12 0.5337    1  1.706    1  0.795   31 -0.458 P
STEELERS   1 1 51 63 -0.159  0.884   19 -0.005   20 -0.004   22 -0.041   19 0.4799    4  1.564    4  0.359   30 -0.441 P
BROWNS     0 2 33 58  0.247  1.294   25 -0.082   25 -0.074   26 -0.078   26 0.4173   25  1.128   29 -0.282   11  0.126 P

AFC EAST
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BILLS      2 0 71 50  0.277  1.091    1  0.116    1  0.120    2  0.156    4 0.6031    5  1.455    3  0.393   24 -0.081 P
PATRIOTS   1 1 46 47 -0.366  0.706   21 -0.014   22 -0.027   25 -0.067   22 0.4695    8  1.356   13  0.029   26 -0.163 P
DOLPHINS   0 2 35 66 -0.188  0.937   29 -0.095   31 -0.095   30 -0.115   28 0.3989    9  1.344   18 -0.035   27 -0.196 P
JETS       0 2 42 64 -0.029  1.081   30 -0.098   29 -0.092   29 -0.111   29 0.3970   15  1.313   20 -0.074   25 -0.147 P

NFC WEST
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
49ERS      2 0 43 34  0.189  1.110    4  0.103    3  0.109    6  0.081    1 0.6113   23  1.201   17 -0.030    7  0.193 P
RAMS       2 0 47 28 -0.193  0.769    6  0.070    6  0.078    8  0.056    7 0.5620   24  1.191   19 -0.068    9  0.180 P
CARDINALS  2 0 47 35 -0.357  0.679    8  0.061    9  0.063   18 -0.014   10 0.5395   19  1.228   21 -0.090   14  0.061 P
SEAHAWKS   1 1 44 34  0.111  1.065   14  0.007   14  0.011   11  0.046   13 0.5297   28  1.085   25 -0.211    4  0.303 P

NFC SOUTH
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCCANEERS 1 0 23 20  0.299  0.617    7  0.061    7  0.066    7  0.059    5 0.5865   13  1.321    8  0.108   16  0.011 P
FALCONS    1 1 42 29  0.050  1.018   15  0.002   17 -0.002   12  0.026   15 0.5085   29  1.083   26 -0.233    5  0.285 P
SAINTS     0 2 34 46 -0.014  1.021   26 -0.086   27 -0.085   24 -0.042   25 0.4315   22  1.203   23 -0.151   13  0.066 P
PANTHERS   0 2 32 53 -0.032  1.073   32 -0.109   32 -0.099   32 -0.143   30 0.3876   21  1.210   27 -0.243   21 -0.044 P

NFC NORTH
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PACKERS    2 0 54 31  0.199  1.080    3  0.105    4  0.109    3  0.128    3 0.6040   18  1.242   11  0.070    8  0.186 P
LIONS      1 1 65 48  0.164  1.031   13  0.020   13  0.019    4  0.093   14 0.5141    6  1.408    6  0.263   23 -0.076 P
VIKINGS    1 1 33 46 -0.191  0.856   17 -0.001   18 -0.002   23 -0.041   20 0.4764   26  1.116   28 -0.260   10  0.177 P
BEARS      0 2 45 79 -0.047  1.064   28 -0.092   28 -0.089   28 -0.108   31 0.3869    2  1.591    5  0.335   32 -0.551 P

NFC EAST
                                     STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
EAGLES     2 0 44 37  0.147  1.067    2  0.106    2  0.110    5  0.086    2 0.6049   27  1.104   22 -0.147    3  0.318 P
COWBOYS    1 1 60 61 -0.069  0.941   16  0.000   15  0.002   17 -0.004   16 0.4989    3  1.585    2  0.429   29 -0.438 P
COMMANDERS 1 1 39 33  0.047  1.020   20 -0.008   16 -0.001   16  0.007   17 0.4864   31  1.025   31 -0.321    2  0.334 P
GIANTS     0 2 43 61  0.040  1.125   31 -0.103   30 -0.093   31 -0.121   32 0.3811    7  1.369   16 -0.007   28 -0.236 P

DIVISION   W L   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   7 1 0.875    1  0.211
AFC WEST   3 3 0.500    2  0.103
NFC NORTH  4 4 0.500    3  0.075
AFC NORTH  4 4 0.500    4  0.062
NFC EAST   4 4 0.500    5 -0.028
NFC SOUTH  2 5 0.286    6 -0.103
AFC SOUTH  3 4 0.429    7 -0.114
AFC EAST   3 5 0.375    8 -0.202

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon Sep 15 05:30:13 2025
games through: Sun Sep 14 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.