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
SEAHAWKS   2 0 44 17  0.225  1.078    1  0.127    1  0.136    1  0.198    1 0.6306   26  1.004   18 -0.094    2  0.491 P
BILLS      2 0 77 62  0.112  1.031    2  0.124    2  0.130    3  0.125    2 0.6219    2  1.675    1  0.759   31 -0.510 P
VIKINGS    2 0 48 25  0.146  1.058    4  0.112    3  0.119    5  0.115    3 0.6213   29  0.960   28 -0.228    3  0.458 P
49ERS      2 0 62 20  0.081  0.900    3  0.113    4  0.115    2  0.194    4 0.6000   19  1.190   11  0.128    6  0.260 P
CHIEFS     2 0 64 40 -0.043  0.883    5  0.110    5  0.110    4  0.116    5 0.5891   11  1.347    7  0.260   16 -0.027 P
LIONS      1 1 62 71  0.319  1.264    9  0.055    9  0.037    9  0.055    6 0.5566    4  1.573    3  0.530   29 -0.420 P
BENGALS    2 0 53 33 -0.067  0.896    7  0.095    6  0.094   10  0.055    7 0.5526   18  1.191   15 -0.009   11  0.118 P
EAGLES     2 0 48 42 -0.426  0.602    6  0.097    7  0.084   13  0.021    8 0.5425   13  1.270   14  0.060   15 -0.018 P
PACKERS    1 1 42 56  0.197  1.183   12  0.047   12  0.025   15  0.011    9 0.5413    5  1.466    5  0.324   27 -0.303 P
RAMS       1 1 35 33  0.184  1.075   10  0.051   13  0.025    8  0.094   10 0.5361   28  0.988   26 -0.216    4  0.405 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BRONCOS    1 1 30 44  0.286  1.268   11  0.048   10  0.030   16  0.006   11 0.5334   25  1.073   24 -0.205    8  0.217 P
PATRIOTS   1 1 30 16  0.296  1.151   15  0.004   15  0.017    7  0.098   12 0.5313   32  0.765   31 -0.454    1  0.650 P
RAIDERS    2 0 53 27 -0.425  0.624    8  0.066    8  0.051   21 -0.039   13 0.5265   23  1.169   19 -0.131   12  0.053 P
SAINTS     1 1 54 48  0.388  1.332   13  0.042   11  0.027   12  0.038   14 0.5222   12  1.305   12  0.125   18 -0.048 P
BEARS      1 1 62 46  0.177  1.151   16 -0.003   16  0.010   14  0.018   15 0.5142    8  1.417    6  0.261   24 -0.226 P
JAGUARS    1 1 47 30 -0.147  0.824   18 -0.012   20 -0.013   11  0.046   16 0.5035   24  1.162   16 -0.055   10  0.147 P
RAVENS     1 1 58 47  0.124  1.058   14  0.012   14  0.022    6  0.101   17 0.5029   10  1.349    9  0.248   17 -0.046 P
CARDINALS  1 1 33 45  0.059  1.112   17 -0.009   17  0.002   23 -0.068   18 0.5000   22  1.176   21 -0.151   13  0.015 P
GIANTS     1 1 34 48 -0.004  1.090   21 -0.021   19 -0.012   30 -0.131   19 0.4783   21  1.177   25 -0.212   19 -0.049 P
STEELERS   1 1 23 33 -0.260  0.871   19 -0.015   21 -0.014   24 -0.079   20 0.4677   27  0.999   29 -0.378    7  0.220 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BROWNS     1 1 33 53  0.045  1.130   20 -0.018   18 -0.007   29 -0.127   21 0.4672   20  1.184   23 -0.199   20 -0.054 P
COWBOYS    1 1 57 48 -0.382  0.666   22 -0.050   22 -0.037   18 -0.027   22 0.4593    7  1.431   10  0.235   26 -0.290 P
TEXANS     0 2 37 56  0.185  1.201   26 -0.088   26 -0.083   19 -0.030   23 0.4475   15  1.214   17 -0.064   14  0.005 P
JETS       1 1 40 30 -0.305  0.761   24 -0.064   24 -0.048   25 -0.084   24 0.4444   30  0.953   30 -0.435    5  0.267 P
PANTHERS   1 1 71 62 -0.330  0.723   23 -0.060   23 -0.045   22 -0.042   25 0.4429    1  1.704    2  0.640   32 -0.723 P
DOLPHINS   0 2 26 62  0.274  1.352   27 -0.097   27 -0.088   28 -0.126   26 0.4385   14  1.236   20 -0.131   23 -0.122 P
COLTS      0 2 53 74  0.354  1.342   25 -0.087   25 -0.077   17 -0.015   27 0.4276    3  1.573    4  0.460   30 -0.490 P
BUCCANEERS 0 2 46 56 -0.120  0.922   28 -0.105   29 -0.116   20 -0.031   28 0.4102    6  1.447    8  0.255   28 -0.316 P
COMMANDERS 0 2 42 61  0.012  1.080   29 -0.111   28 -0.114   26 -0.105   29 0.3993    9  1.368   13  0.069   25 -0.279 P
CHARGERS   0 2 28 52 -0.317  0.782   30 -0.113   30 -0.129   27 -0.112   30 0.3978   16  1.204   22 -0.159   21 -0.065 P
TEAM       W L PF PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
FALCONS    0 2 16 54 -0.337  0.825   31 -0.122   31 -0.136   32 -0.215   31 0.3633   31  0.926   32 -0.595    9  0.166 P
TITANS     0 2 30 47 -0.298  0.829   32 -0.130   32 -0.145   31 -0.165   32 0.3633   17  1.192   27 -0.228   22 -0.103 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
CHIEFS     2 0 64 40 -0.043  0.883    5  0.110    5  0.110    4  0.116    5 0.5891   11  1.347    7  0.260   16 -0.027 P
BRONCOS    1 1 30 44  0.286  1.268   11  0.048   10  0.030   16  0.006   11 0.5334   25  1.073   24 -0.205    8  0.217 P
RAIDERS    2 0 53 27 -0.425  0.624    8  0.066    8  0.051   21 -0.039   13 0.5265   23  1.169   19 -0.131   12  0.053 P
CHARGERS   0 2 28 52 -0.317  0.782   30 -0.113   30 -0.129   27 -0.112   30 0.3978   16  1.204   22 -0.159   21 -0.065 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
JAGUARS    1 1 47 30 -0.147  0.824   18 -0.012   20 -0.013   11  0.046   16 0.5035   24  1.162   16 -0.055   10  0.147 P
TEXANS     0 2 37 56  0.185  1.201   26 -0.088   26 -0.083   19 -0.030   23 0.4475   15  1.214   17 -0.064   14  0.005 P
COLTS      0 2 53 74  0.354  1.342   25 -0.087   25 -0.077   17 -0.015   27 0.4276    3  1.573    4  0.460   30 -0.490 P
TITANS     0 2 30 47 -0.298  0.829   32 -0.130   32 -0.145   31 -0.165   32 0.3633   17  1.192   27 -0.228   22 -0.103 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 53 33 -0.067  0.896    7  0.095    6  0.094   10  0.055    7 0.5526   18  1.191   15 -0.009   11  0.118 P
RAVENS     1 1 58 47  0.124  1.058   14  0.012   14  0.022    6  0.101   17 0.5029   10  1.349    9  0.248   17 -0.046 P
STEELERS   1 1 23 33 -0.260  0.871   19 -0.015   21 -0.014   24 -0.079   20 0.4677   27  0.999   29 -0.378    7  0.220 P
BROWNS     1 1 33 53  0.045  1.130   20 -0.018   18 -0.007   29 -0.127   21 0.4672   20  1.184   23 -0.199   20 -0.054 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 77 62  0.112  1.031    2  0.124    2  0.130    3  0.125    2 0.6219    2  1.675    1  0.759   31 -0.510 P
PATRIOTS   1 1 30 16  0.296  1.151   15  0.004   15  0.017    7  0.098   12 0.5313   32  0.765   31 -0.454    1  0.650 P
JETS       1 1 40 30 -0.305  0.761   24 -0.064   24 -0.048   25 -0.084   24 0.4444   30  0.953   30 -0.435    5  0.267 P
DOLPHINS   0 2 26 62  0.274  1.352   27 -0.097   27 -0.088   28 -0.126   26 0.4385   14  1.236   20 -0.131   23 -0.122 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
SEAHAWKS   2 0 44 17  0.225  1.078    1  0.127    1  0.136    1  0.198    1 0.6306   26  1.004   18 -0.094    2  0.491 P
49ERS      2 0 62 20  0.081  0.900    3  0.113    4  0.115    2  0.194    4 0.6000   19  1.190   11  0.128    6  0.260 P
RAMS       1 1 35 33  0.184  1.075   10  0.051   13  0.025    8  0.094   10 0.5361   28  0.988   26 -0.216    4  0.405 P
CARDINALS  1 1 33 45  0.059  1.112   17 -0.009   17  0.002   23 -0.068   18 0.5000   22  1.176   21 -0.151   13  0.015 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
SAINTS     1 1 54 48  0.388  1.332   13  0.042   11  0.027   12  0.038   14 0.5222   12  1.305   12  0.125   18 -0.048 P
PANTHERS   1 1 71 62 -0.330  0.723   23 -0.060   23 -0.045   22 -0.042   25 0.4429    1  1.704    2  0.640   32 -0.723 P
BUCCANEERS 0 2 46 56 -0.120  0.922   28 -0.105   29 -0.116   20 -0.031   28 0.4102    6  1.447    8  0.255   28 -0.316 P
FALCONS    0 2 16 54 -0.337  0.825   31 -0.122   31 -0.136   32 -0.215   31 0.3633   31  0.926   32 -0.595    9  0.166 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
VIKINGS    2 0 48 25  0.146  1.058    4  0.112    3  0.119    5  0.115    3 0.6213   29  0.960   28 -0.228    3  0.458 P
LIONS      1 1 62 71  0.319  1.264    9  0.055    9  0.037    9  0.055    6 0.5566    4  1.573    3  0.530   29 -0.420 P
PACKERS    1 1 42 56  0.197  1.183   12  0.047   12  0.025   15  0.011    9 0.5413    5  1.466    5  0.324   27 -0.303 P
BEARS      1 1 62 46  0.177  1.151   16 -0.003   16  0.010   14  0.018   15 0.5142    8  1.417    6  0.261   24 -0.226 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 48 42 -0.426  0.602    6  0.097    7  0.084   13  0.021    8 0.5425   13  1.270   14  0.060   15 -0.018 P
GIANTS     1 1 34 48 -0.004  1.090   21 -0.021   19 -0.012   30 -0.131   19 0.4783   21  1.177   25 -0.212   19 -0.049 P
COWBOYS    1 1 57 48 -0.382  0.666   22 -0.050   22 -0.037   18 -0.027   22 0.4593    7  1.431   10  0.235   26 -0.290 P
COMMANDERS 0 2 42 61  0.012  1.080   29 -0.111   28 -0.114   26 -0.105   29 0.3993    9  1.368   13  0.069   25 -0.279 P

DIVISION   W L   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   6 2 0.750    1  0.441
NFC NORTH  5 3 0.625    2  0.211
AFC EAST   4 4 0.500    3  0.041
AFC WEST   5 3 0.625    4 -0.018
AFC NORTH  5 3 0.625    5 -0.039
AFC SOUTH  1 7 0.125    6 -0.158
NFC SOUTH  2 6 0.250    7 -0.227
NFC EAST   4 4 0.500    8 -0.232

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue Sep 22 05:30:16 2026
games through: Mon Sep 21 2026

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