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
COWBOYS     7  8  1 454 477 -0.135  7.323   20 -0.112   19 -0.122   23 -0.158   21 0.4703    1  1.770    4  0.566   32 -0.883
BENGALS     5 10  0 359 458 -0.067  7.538   23 -0.281   23 -0.286   28 -0.281   24 0.4543    2  1.588   11  0.149   31 -0.711
BILLS      11  4  0 434 344 -0.112  6.617    9  0.302    9  0.301    8  0.169    8 0.5641    3  1.564    5  0.563   23 -0.225
LIONS       8  8  0 462 397 -0.015  7.768   17 -0.021   17 -0.024   14  0.055   18 0.4902    4  1.561    8  0.444   27 -0.334
COLTS       8  7  0 419 351  0.186  8.143   14  0.117   14  0.134    6  0.201   14 0.5251    5  1.496    6  0.492   19 -0.090
BEARS      11  4  0 387 354 -0.158  6.536   10  0.292   10  0.291   13  0.084   10 0.5497    6  1.444    9  0.298   21 -0.130
RAMS       11  4  0 457 299  0.378  8.998    2  0.593    2  0.560    1  0.663    2 0.6066    7  1.425    1  0.850    3  0.476
BUCCANEERS  7  8  0 347 377  0.097  8.147   16  0.013   16  0.027   19 -0.059   16 0.5057    8  1.422   12  0.125   24 -0.242
JAGUARS    11  4  0 410 312  0.223  8.229    4  0.490    5  0.483    3  0.435    3 0.5911    9  1.387    3  0.568    6  0.302
GIANTS      2 13  0 313 412  0.004  7.850   31 -0.594   31 -0.590   26 -0.270   32 0.3873   10  1.386   21 -0.138   28 -0.402
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CARDINALS   3 12  0 321 414  0.223  9.043   27 -0.371   27 -0.377   20 -0.123   26 0.4363   11  1.383   18  0.003   25 -0.250
49ERS      11  4  0 392 320  0.240  8.357    3  0.514    3  0.525    5  0.357    4 0.5838   12  1.356    7  0.446    9  0.267
PATRIOTS   12  3  0 410 300 -0.253  5.808    7  0.323    7  0.319    9  0.147    7 0.5659   13  1.350   10  0.228   14  0.066
SEAHAWKS   12  3  0 443 279  0.279  8.310    1  0.634    1  0.612    2  0.618    1 0.6096   14  1.333    2  0.675    2  0.560
COMMANDERS  4 12  0 332 434 -0.109  7.736   28 -0.456   28 -0.466   29 -0.383   28 0.4060   15  1.326   25 -0.336   29 -0.431
RAVENS      7  8  0 359 348 -0.096  6.941   19 -0.112   20 -0.123   17  0.017   19 0.4783   16  1.323   14  0.061   16 -0.026
STEELERS    9  6  0 365 350 -0.037  7.294   13  0.118   13  0.143   15  0.030   12 0.5344   17  1.314   13  0.062   15 -0.002
JETS        3 12  0 282 426 -0.220  6.819   32 -0.597   32 -0.596   32 -0.580   29 0.3984   18  1.295   29 -0.575   30 -0.586
DOLPHINS    6  9  0 317 369 -0.236  6.459   24 -0.285   24 -0.288   27 -0.279   25 0.4517   19  1.273   24 -0.303   26 -0.254
FALCONS     6  9  0 307 360 -0.045  7.487   21 -0.174   21 -0.182   22 -0.139   20 0.4708   20  1.226   22 -0.226   18 -0.053
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CHARGERS   11  4  0 349 301 -0.089  6.885    8  0.314    8  0.313   12  0.116    9 0.5533   21  1.222   16  0.025   12  0.208
BRONCOS    13  3  0 382 308 -0.064  7.319    5  0.488    4  0.505   10  0.141    5 0.5774   22  1.206   15  0.030   10  0.253
TITANS      3 12  0 251 403  0.195  9.205   26 -0.367   26 -0.363   25 -0.230   27 0.4304   23  1.202   26 -0.347   20 -0.113
PACKERS     9  5  1 364 303 -0.079  6.917   12  0.140   12  0.147   11  0.133   13 0.5317   24  1.181   19 -0.011    8  0.278
EAGLES     10  5  0 349 289  0.009  7.353   11  0.267   11  0.265    7  0.198   11 0.5427   25  1.096   20 -0.052    4  0.448
PANTHERS    8  7  0 287 337 -0.035  7.538   15  0.042   15  0.057   21 -0.125   15 0.5159   26  1.084   28 -0.389   13  0.139
CHIEFS      6 10  0 350 314  0.046  8.194   22 -0.186   22 -0.192   16  0.026   22 0.4628   27  1.082   23 -0.241    7  0.293
RAIDERS     2 13  0 217 386 -0.026  8.118   30 -0.593   30 -0.590   31 -0.499   30 0.3967   28  1.025   32 -0.834   22 -0.164
VIKINGS     8  8  0 328 330 -0.053  7.774   18 -0.033   18 -0.028   18 -0.012   17 0.4945   29  1.023   27 -0.350    5  0.326
BROWNS      3 12  0 246 355 -0.190  6.895   29 -0.572   29 -0.585   30 -0.421   31 0.3933   30  0.996   31 -0.789   17 -0.053
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TEXANS     10  5  0 346 249  0.287  8.546    6  0.399    6  0.405    4  0.384    6 0.5739   31  0.994   17  0.013    1  0.754
SAINTS      5 10  0 255 338 -0.061  7.570   25 -0.290   25 -0.289   24 -0.188   23 0.4545   32  0.959   30 -0.598   11  0.223

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
CHARGERS   11  4  0 349 301 -0.089  6.885    8  0.314    8  0.313   12  0.116    9 0.5533   21  1.222   16  0.025   12  0.208
BRONCOS    13  3  0 382 308 -0.064  7.319    5  0.488    4  0.505   10  0.141    5 0.5774   22  1.206   15  0.030   10  0.253
CHIEFS      6 10  0 350 314  0.046  8.194   22 -0.186   22 -0.192   16  0.026   22 0.4628   27  1.082   23 -0.241    7  0.293
RAIDERS     2 13  0 217 386 -0.026  8.118   30 -0.593   30 -0.590   31 -0.499   30 0.3967   28  1.025   32 -0.834   22 -0.164

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
COLTS       8  7  0 419 351  0.186  8.143   14  0.117   14  0.134    6  0.201   14 0.5251    5  1.496    6  0.492   19 -0.090
JAGUARS    11  4  0 410 312  0.223  8.229    4  0.490    5  0.483    3  0.435    3 0.5911    9  1.387    3  0.568    6  0.302
TITANS      3 12  0 251 403  0.195  9.205   26 -0.367   26 -0.363   25 -0.230   27 0.4304   23  1.202   26 -0.347   20 -0.113
TEXANS     10  5  0 346 249  0.287  8.546    6  0.399    6  0.405    4  0.384    6 0.5739   31  0.994   17  0.013    1  0.754

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
BENGALS     5 10  0 359 458 -0.067  7.538   23 -0.281   23 -0.286   28 -0.281   24 0.4543    2  1.588   11  0.149   31 -0.711
RAVENS      7  8  0 359 348 -0.096  6.941   19 -0.112   20 -0.123   17  0.017   19 0.4783   16  1.323   14  0.061   16 -0.026
STEELERS    9  6  0 365 350 -0.037  7.294   13  0.118   13  0.143   15  0.030   12 0.5344   17  1.314   13  0.062   15 -0.002
BROWNS      3 12  0 246 355 -0.190  6.895   29 -0.572   29 -0.585   30 -0.421   31 0.3933   30  0.996   31 -0.789   17 -0.053

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      11  4  0 434 344 -0.112  6.617    9  0.302    9  0.301    8  0.169    8 0.5641    3  1.564    5  0.563   23 -0.225
PATRIOTS   12  3  0 410 300 -0.253  5.808    7  0.323    7  0.319    9  0.147    7 0.5659   13  1.350   10  0.228   14  0.066
JETS        3 12  0 282 426 -0.220  6.819   32 -0.597   32 -0.596   32 -0.580   29 0.3984   18  1.295   29 -0.575   30 -0.586
DOLPHINS    6  9  0 317 369 -0.236  6.459   24 -0.285   24 -0.288   27 -0.279   25 0.4517   19  1.273   24 -0.303   26 -0.254

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
RAMS       11  4  0 457 299  0.378  8.998    2  0.593    2  0.560    1  0.663    2 0.6066    7  1.425    1  0.850    3  0.476
CARDINALS   3 12  0 321 414  0.223  9.043   27 -0.371   27 -0.377   20 -0.123   26 0.4363   11  1.383   18  0.003   25 -0.250
49ERS      11  4  0 392 320  0.240  8.357    3  0.514    3  0.525    5  0.357    4 0.5838   12  1.356    7  0.446    9  0.267
SEAHAWKS   12  3  0 443 279  0.279  8.310    1  0.634    1  0.612    2  0.618    1 0.6096   14  1.333    2  0.675    2  0.560

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  8  0 347 377  0.097  8.147   16  0.013   16  0.027   19 -0.059   16 0.5057    8  1.422   12  0.125   24 -0.242
FALCONS     6  9  0 307 360 -0.045  7.487   21 -0.174   21 -0.182   22 -0.139   20 0.4708   20  1.226   22 -0.226   18 -0.053
PANTHERS    8  7  0 287 337 -0.035  7.538   15  0.042   15  0.057   21 -0.125   15 0.5159   26  1.084   28 -0.389   13  0.139
SAINTS      5 10  0 255 338 -0.061  7.570   25 -0.290   25 -0.289   24 -0.188   23 0.4545   32  0.959   30 -0.598   11  0.223

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
LIONS       8  8  0 462 397 -0.015  7.768   17 -0.021   17 -0.024   14  0.055   18 0.4902    4  1.561    8  0.444   27 -0.334
BEARS      11  4  0 387 354 -0.158  6.536   10  0.292   10  0.291   13  0.084   10 0.5497    6  1.444    9  0.298   21 -0.130
PACKERS     9  5  1 364 303 -0.079  6.917   12  0.140   12  0.147   11  0.133   13 0.5317   24  1.181   19 -0.011    8  0.278
VIKINGS     8  8  0 328 330 -0.053  7.774   18 -0.033   18 -0.028   18 -0.012   17 0.4945   29  1.023   27 -0.350    5  0.326

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
COWBOYS     7  8  1 454 477 -0.135  7.323   20 -0.112   19 -0.122   23 -0.158   21 0.4703    1  1.770    4  0.566   32 -0.883
GIANTS      2 13  0 313 412  0.004  7.850   31 -0.594   31 -0.590   26 -0.270   32 0.3873   10  1.386   21 -0.138   28 -0.402
COMMANDERS  4 12  0 332 434 -0.109  7.736   28 -0.456   28 -0.466   29 -0.383   28 0.4060   15  1.326   25 -0.336   29 -0.431
EAGLES     10  5  0 349 289  0.009  7.353   11  0.267   11  0.265    7  0.198   11 0.5427   25  1.096   20 -0.052    4  0.448

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   37 23  0 0.617    1  0.633
AFC SOUTH  32 28  0 0.533    2  0.335
NFC NORTH  36 25  1 0.589    3  0.079
AFC WEST   32 30  0 0.516    4 -0.043
AFC EAST   32 28  0 0.533    5 -0.210
NFC SOUTH  26 34  0 0.433    6 -0.221
NFC EAST   23 38  1 0.379    7 -0.224
AFC NORTH  24 36  0 0.400    8 -0.301

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.158 points in main ratings (0.109 for semineutral)
     0.015 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 26 05:30:08 2025
games through: Thu Dec 25 2025

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