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
RAVENS     1 4 0 141 177  0.084  2.816   27 -0.070   27 -0.065   23 -0.039   30 0.3928    1  1.832    1  0.781   32 -0.858 P
COWBOYS    2 2 1 151 154 -0.127  2.274   19 -0.022   17 -0.009   20 -0.023   21 0.4822    2  1.688    2  0.556   31 -0.603 P
BUCCANEERS 4 1 0 135 132  0.141  2.713    2  0.089    2  0.100   12  0.024    3 0.5917    3  1.608    3  0.476   30 -0.427 P
LIONS      4 1 0 174 112 -0.107  1.981    6  0.067    6  0.061    4  0.074    5 0.5696    4  1.514    4  0.380   28 -0.233 P
BEARS      2 2 0 101 117 -0.134  1.840   18 -0.019   19 -0.012   22 -0.036   17 0.4960    5  1.438   11  0.160   27 -0.231 P
SEAHAWKS   3 2 0 146 105  0.048  2.405   14  0.027   13  0.025    6  0.063    9 0.5515    6  1.407    6  0.214   21 -0.087 P
COMMANDERS 3 2 0 134 101  0.025  2.350   12  0.040   14  0.021    7  0.056   13 0.5207    7  1.406    7  0.206   23 -0.093 P
JAGUARS    4 1 0 127 100  0.108  2.543    3  0.081    3  0.084    8  0.055    2 0.5927    8  1.404    8  0.201   22 -0.092 P
BILLS      4 1 0 153 113 -0.402  1.531    9  0.053    9  0.039   13  0.022   18 0.4931    9  1.401   10  0.164   24 -0.121 P
RAMS       3 2 0 123 107  0.297  2.967    7  0.059    7  0.055    5  0.067    7 0.5562   10  1.392    9  0.196   19 -0.062 P
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JETS       0 5 0 112 157 -0.227  2.254   32 -0.128   32 -0.153   31 -0.109   32 0.3369   11  1.388   16  0.015   29 -0.234 P
COLTS      4 1 0 163  89  0.076  2.214    4  0.073    5  0.071    1  0.113    6 0.5567   12  1.385    5  0.233   17 -0.006 P
DOLPHINS   1 4 0 107 145 -0.100  2.549   30 -0.081   30 -0.083   27 -0.068   31 0.3777   13  1.377   13  0.040   25 -0.176 P
STEELERS   3 1 0  96  98 -0.046  1.922    8  0.059    8  0.052   17 -0.003    8 0.5558   14  1.358   12  0.079   20 -0.085 P
BENGALS    2 3 0  85 156 -0.026  2.788   20 -0.028   20 -0.016   32 -0.114   16 0.5005   15  1.351   19 -0.043   26 -0.185 P
EAGLES     4 2 0 142 143  0.167  3.377    5  0.072    4  0.074   14  0.016    4 0.5711   16  1.308   14  0.029   15  0.004
SAINTS     1 4 0  92 135 -0.034  2.633   29 -0.078   29 -0.078   26 -0.063   28 0.4115   17  1.288   21 -0.077   18 -0.049 P
PACKERS    2 1 1 104  84  0.070  1.997   10  0.045   11  0.031   10  0.046   11 0.5369   18  1.276   15  0.015   10  0.077 P
PATRIOTS   3 2 0 125 101 -0.226  1.976   15  0.011   16 -0.002   15  0.004   19 0.4890   19  1.274   18 -0.029   12  0.038 P
VIKINGS    3 2 0 123  97 -0.377  1.693   17 -0.004   18 -0.012   19 -0.016   12 0.5241   20  1.267   20 -0.058   13  0.026 P
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PANTHERS   2 3 0 102 119 -0.067  2.449   24 -0.048   23 -0.034   24 -0.040   24 0.4556   21  1.257   22 -0.097   14  0.016 P
CHIEFS     2 3 0 125 107  0.072  2.521   22 -0.033   22 -0.023    9  0.052   22 0.4736   22  1.250   17 -0.013    8  0.117 P
TITANS     1 4 0  73 141  0.353  3.483   25 -0.054   24 -0.039   28 -0.079   26 0.4267   23  1.239   23 -0.158   16  0.001 P
GIANTS     2 4 0 121 144 -0.013  3.095   26 -0.059   26 -0.051   25 -0.042   25 0.4400   24  1.185   24 -0.192    9  0.107
RAIDERS    1 4 0  83 139  0.062  2.909   28 -0.070   28 -0.067   29 -0.088   27 0.4222   25  1.175   29 -0.250   11  0.074 P
CHARGERS   3 2 0  98  98  0.078  2.637   13  0.033   10  0.035   16  0.004   15 0.5143   26  1.140   26 -0.202    6  0.210 P
CARDINALS  2 3 0 103  96 -0.110  2.252   23 -0.045   25 -0.043   18 -0.009   23 0.4557   27  1.134   28 -0.224    7  0.205 P
49ERS      4 1 0 106  98  0.235  2.875    1  0.095    1  0.106   11  0.045    1 0.6126   28  1.102   27 -0.209    4  0.298 P
FALCONS    2 2 0  76  86  0.014  2.077   16  0.010   15  0.001   21 -0.032   14 0.5160   29  1.085   30 -0.305    5  0.242 P
BRONCOS    3 2 0 117  84  0.147  2.482   11  0.045   12  0.030    3  0.076   10 0.5487   30  1.084   25 -0.199    3  0.351 P
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BROWNS     1 4 0  73 123 -0.204  2.420   31 -0.090   31 -0.095   30 -0.102   29 0.4083   31  0.917   31 -0.570    2  0.367 P
TEXANS     2 3 0 108  61  0.243  2.683   21 -0.029   21 -0.017    2  0.109   20 0.4830   32  0.641   32 -0.639    1  0.858 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     2 3 0 125 107  0.072  2.521   22 -0.033   22 -0.023    9  0.052   22 0.4736   22  1.250   17 -0.013    8  0.117 P
RAIDERS    1 4 0  83 139  0.062  2.909   28 -0.070   28 -0.067   29 -0.088   27 0.4222   25  1.175   29 -0.250   11  0.074 P
CHARGERS   3 2 0  98  98  0.078  2.637   13  0.033   10  0.035   16  0.004   15 0.5143   26  1.140   26 -0.202    6  0.210 P
BRONCOS    3 2 0 117  84  0.147  2.482   11  0.045   12  0.030    3  0.076   10 0.5487   30  1.084   25 -0.199    3  0.351 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 0 127 100  0.108  2.543    3  0.081    3  0.084    8  0.055    2 0.5927    8  1.404    8  0.201   22 -0.092 P
COLTS      4 1 0 163  89  0.076  2.214    4  0.073    5  0.071    1  0.113    6 0.5567   12  1.385    5  0.233   17 -0.006 P
TITANS     1 4 0  73 141  0.353  3.483   25 -0.054   24 -0.039   28 -0.079   26 0.4267   23  1.239   23 -0.158   16  0.001 P
TEXANS     2 3 0 108  61  0.243  2.683   21 -0.029   21 -0.017    2  0.109   20 0.4830   32  0.641   32 -0.639    1  0.858 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     1 4 0 141 177  0.084  2.816   27 -0.070   27 -0.065   23 -0.039   30 0.3928    1  1.832    1  0.781   32 -0.858 P
STEELERS   3 1 0  96  98 -0.046  1.922    8  0.059    8  0.052   17 -0.003    8 0.5558   14  1.358   12  0.079   20 -0.085 P
BENGALS    2 3 0  85 156 -0.026  2.788   20 -0.028   20 -0.016   32 -0.114   16 0.5005   15  1.351   19 -0.043   26 -0.185 P
BROWNS     1 4 0  73 123 -0.204  2.420   31 -0.090   31 -0.095   30 -0.102   29 0.4083   31  0.917   31 -0.570    2  0.367 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 0 153 113 -0.402  1.531    9  0.053    9  0.039   13  0.022   18 0.4931    9  1.401   10  0.164   24 -0.121 P
JETS       0 5 0 112 157 -0.227  2.254   32 -0.128   32 -0.153   31 -0.109   32 0.3369   11  1.388   16  0.015   29 -0.234 P
DOLPHINS   1 4 0 107 145 -0.100  2.549   30 -0.081   30 -0.083   27 -0.068   31 0.3777   13  1.377   13  0.040   25 -0.176 P
PATRIOTS   3 2 0 125 101 -0.226  1.976   15  0.011   16 -0.002   15  0.004   19 0.4890   19  1.274   18 -0.029   12  0.038 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
SEAHAWKS   3 2 0 146 105  0.048  2.405   14  0.027   13  0.025    6  0.063    9 0.5515    6  1.407    6  0.214   21 -0.087 P
RAMS       3 2 0 123 107  0.297  2.967    7  0.059    7  0.055    5  0.067    7 0.5562   10  1.392    9  0.196   19 -0.062 P
CARDINALS  2 3 0 103  96 -0.110  2.252   23 -0.045   25 -0.043   18 -0.009   23 0.4557   27  1.134   28 -0.224    7  0.205 P
49ERS      4 1 0 106  98  0.235  2.875    1  0.095    1  0.106   11  0.045    1 0.6126   28  1.102   27 -0.209    4  0.298 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
BUCCANEERS 4 1 0 135 132  0.141  2.713    2  0.089    2  0.100   12  0.024    3 0.5917    3  1.608    3  0.476   30 -0.427 P
SAINTS     1 4 0  92 135 -0.034  2.633   29 -0.078   29 -0.078   26 -0.063   28 0.4115   17  1.288   21 -0.077   18 -0.049 P
PANTHERS   2 3 0 102 119 -0.067  2.449   24 -0.048   23 -0.034   24 -0.040   24 0.4556   21  1.257   22 -0.097   14  0.016 P
FALCONS    2 2 0  76  86  0.014  2.077   16  0.010   15  0.001   21 -0.032   14 0.5160   29  1.085   30 -0.305    5  0.242 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
LIONS      4 1 0 174 112 -0.107  1.981    6  0.067    6  0.061    4  0.074    5 0.5696    4  1.514    4  0.380   28 -0.233 P
BEARS      2 2 0 101 117 -0.134  1.840   18 -0.019   19 -0.012   22 -0.036   17 0.4960    5  1.438   11  0.160   27 -0.231 P
PACKERS    2 1 1 104  84  0.070  1.997   10  0.045   11  0.031   10  0.046   11 0.5369   18  1.276   15  0.015   10  0.077 P
VIKINGS    3 2 0 123  97 -0.377  1.693   17 -0.004   18 -0.012   19 -0.016   12 0.5241   20  1.267   20 -0.058   13  0.026 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
COWBOYS    2 2 1 151 154 -0.127  2.274   19 -0.022   17 -0.009   20 -0.023   21 0.4822    2  1.688    2  0.556   31 -0.603 P
COMMANDERS 3 2 0 134 101  0.025  2.350   12  0.040   14  0.021    7  0.056   13 0.5207    7  1.406    7  0.206   23 -0.093 P
EAGLES     4 2 0 142 143  0.167  3.377    5  0.072    4  0.074   14  0.016    4 0.5711   16  1.308   14  0.029   15  0.004
GIANTS     2 4 0 121 144 -0.013  3.095   26 -0.059   26 -0.051   25 -0.042   25 0.4400   24  1.185   24 -0.192    9  0.107

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
AFC SOUTH  11  9  0 0.550    1  0.368
NFC WEST   12  8  0 0.600    2  0.313
NFC NORTH  11  6  1 0.639    3  0.122
AFC WEST    9 11  0 0.450    4  0.100
NFC EAST   11 10  1 0.523    5  0.014
NFC SOUTH   9 10  0 0.474    6 -0.184
AFC EAST    8 12  0 0.400    7 -0.270
AFC NORTH   7 12  0 0.368    8 -0.441

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Oct 10 05:30:13 2025
games through: Thu Oct  9 2025

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.