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     6  5  1 351 342 -0.057  5.793   17  0.045   17  0.031   15  0.013   17 0.5079    1  1.752    1  0.715   31 -0.689
BENGALS     4  8  0 280 374 -0.113  5.894   25 -0.267   25 -0.254   29 -0.281   23 0.4510    2  1.589   11  0.159   32 -0.720
BILLS       7  4  0 311 252 -0.091  4.970   14  0.128   14  0.117   12  0.118   13 0.5241    3  1.559    4  0.512   26 -0.275
COLTS       8  3  0 341 229  0.077  5.236    6  0.283    6  0.283    3  0.291    8 0.5579    4  1.513    2  0.615   16 -0.032
BEARS       8  3  0 289 292 -0.285  4.377   11  0.169   11  0.158   20 -0.116   12 0.5357    5  1.501   10  0.189   30 -0.421
LIONS       7  5  0 350 274 -0.021  5.709   15  0.090   15  0.077   11  0.126   15 0.5201    6  1.480    6  0.400   23 -0.149
BUCCANEERS  6  5  0 259 284  0.247  6.580   10  0.188   10  0.189   14  0.034   10 0.5470    7  1.450    8  0.264   24 -0.196
GIANTS      2 10  0 264 334  0.098  6.734   29 -0.390   29 -0.387   22 -0.127   26 0.4181    8  1.429   16  0.073   29 -0.327
SEAHAWKS    8  3  0 324 217  0.214  5.916    5  0.340    5  0.347    2  0.393    4 0.5784    9  1.412    3  0.570    7  0.217
RAVENS      6  6  0 289 293 -0.090  5.683   20 -0.031   20 -0.050   19 -0.062   20 0.4817   10  1.405   14  0.103   25 -0.228
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
JAGUARS     7  4  0 267 250  0.233  6.352    8  0.265    8  0.268    9  0.173    7 0.5634   11  1.392    7  0.320   14  0.026
STEELERS    6  5  0 274 263 -0.094  5.126   18  0.031   18  0.015   16 -0.006   16 0.5122   12  1.361   15  0.098   19 -0.109
CARDINALS   3  8  0 248 283  0.136  6.205   24 -0.251   24 -0.235   17 -0.023   24 0.4491   13  1.356   17  0.073   21 -0.120
COMMANDERS  3  8  0 236 296 -0.066  5.520   26 -0.317   26 -0.307   25 -0.223   27 0.4176   14  1.330   23 -0.163   28 -0.284
PATRIOTS   10  2  0 318 226 -0.307  4.395    7  0.281    7  0.274   13  0.112    6 0.5644   15  1.314   12  0.150   12  0.073
49ERS       8  4  0 281 261  0.262  6.986    4  0.341    4  0.356    6  0.203    5 0.5737   16  1.302    9  0.226    8  0.180
JETS        2  9  0 219 291 -0.171  5.132   32 -0.458   32 -0.466   30 -0.312   32 0.3947   17  1.259   26 -0.348   27 -0.277
CHARGERS    7  4  0 246 238 -0.079  5.194   13  0.143   13  0.134   18 -0.030   14 0.5234   18  1.255   20 -0.071   15  0.011
DOLPHINS    4  7  0 226 269 -0.139  5.170   21 -0.213   21 -0.223   23 -0.177   25 0.4399   19  1.238   24 -0.240   20 -0.115
VIKINGS     4  7  0 224 255 -0.158  5.080   23 -0.241   23 -0.227   26 -0.225   21 0.4580   20  1.173   27 -0.373   18 -0.078
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAMS        9  2  0 306 179  0.320  6.331    1  0.498    1  0.511    1  0.583    1 0.6329   21  1.173    5  0.435    1  0.730
FALCONS     4  7  0 219 249 -0.117  5.193   22 -0.220   22 -0.224   21 -0.117   22 0.4533   22  1.170   25 -0.268   13  0.033
TITANS      1 10  0 167 303  0.215  7.011   30 -0.408   30 -0.406   28 -0.278   30 0.4014   23  1.165   28 -0.435   22 -0.121
EAGLES      8  3  0 255 225  0.201  6.250    3  0.360    3  0.374    7  0.184    2 0.5911   24  1.156   18  0.016    5  0.353
CHIEFS      6  6  0 305 232  0.125  6.309   16  0.065   16  0.038    5  0.284   18 0.5058   25  1.153   13  0.113    3  0.456
PACKERS     8  3  1 294 226 -0.076  5.476    9  0.222    9  0.216   10  0.166    9 0.5482   26  1.151   19 -0.009    6  0.342
BRONCOS     9  2  0 257 192 -0.000  5.154    2  0.398    2  0.400    8  0.181    3 0.5842   27  1.080   21 -0.081    4  0.444
PANTHERS    6  6  0 216 269 -0.086  5.893   19 -0.010   19 -0.028   24 -0.200   19 0.4938   28  1.046   29 -0.503   10  0.104
RAIDERS     2  9  0 165 277 -0.136  5.577   31 -0.422   31 -0.426   32 -0.416   31 0.3981   29  0.991   32 -0.783   17 -0.048
BROWNS      3  8  0 186 244 -0.228  4.852   27 -0.382   27 -0.378   27 -0.240   29 0.4048   30  0.990   30 -0.609    9  0.128
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SAINTS      2  9  0 165 274 -0.012  5.969   28 -0.390   28 -0.385   31 -0.317   28 0.4166   31  0.962   31 -0.717   11  0.083
TEXANS      6  5  0 243 182  0.271  6.285   12  0.154   12  0.149    4  0.285   11 0.5455   32  0.959   22 -0.119    2  0.689

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    7  4  0 246 238 -0.079  5.194   13  0.143   13  0.134   18 -0.030   14 0.5234   18  1.255   20 -0.071   15  0.011
CHIEFS      6  6  0 305 232  0.125  6.309   16  0.065   16  0.038    5  0.284   18 0.5058   25  1.153   13  0.113    3  0.456
BRONCOS     9  2  0 257 192 -0.000  5.154    2  0.398    2  0.400    8  0.181    3 0.5842   27  1.080   21 -0.081    4  0.444
RAIDERS     2  9  0 165 277 -0.136  5.577   31 -0.422   31 -0.426   32 -0.416   31 0.3981   29  0.991   32 -0.783   17 -0.048

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  3  0 341 229  0.077  5.236    6  0.283    6  0.283    3  0.291    8 0.5579    4  1.513    2  0.615   16 -0.032
JAGUARS     7  4  0 267 250  0.233  6.352    8  0.265    8  0.268    9  0.173    7 0.5634   11  1.392    7  0.320   14  0.026
TITANS      1 10  0 167 303  0.215  7.011   30 -0.408   30 -0.406   28 -0.278   30 0.4014   23  1.165   28 -0.435   22 -0.121
TEXANS      6  5  0 243 182  0.271  6.285   12  0.154   12  0.149    4  0.285   11 0.5455   32  0.959   22 -0.119    2  0.689

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     4  8  0 280 374 -0.113  5.894   25 -0.267   25 -0.254   29 -0.281   23 0.4510    2  1.589   11  0.159   32 -0.720
RAVENS      6  6  0 289 293 -0.090  5.683   20 -0.031   20 -0.050   19 -0.062   20 0.4817   10  1.405   14  0.103   25 -0.228
STEELERS    6  5  0 274 263 -0.094  5.126   18  0.031   18  0.015   16 -0.006   16 0.5122   12  1.361   15  0.098   19 -0.109
BROWNS      3  8  0 186 244 -0.228  4.852   27 -0.382   27 -0.378   27 -0.240   29 0.4048   30  0.990   30 -0.609    9  0.128

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       7  4  0 311 252 -0.091  4.970   14  0.128   14  0.117   12  0.118   13 0.5241    3  1.559    4  0.512   26 -0.275
PATRIOTS   10  2  0 318 226 -0.307  4.395    7  0.281    7  0.274   13  0.112    6 0.5644   15  1.314   12  0.150   12  0.073
JETS        2  9  0 219 291 -0.171  5.132   32 -0.458   32 -0.466   30 -0.312   32 0.3947   17  1.259   26 -0.348   27 -0.277
DOLPHINS    4  7  0 226 269 -0.139  5.170   21 -0.213   21 -0.223   23 -0.177   25 0.4399   19  1.238   24 -0.240   20 -0.115

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    8  3  0 324 217  0.214  5.916    5  0.340    5  0.347    2  0.393    4 0.5784    9  1.412    3  0.570    7  0.217
CARDINALS   3  8  0 248 283  0.136  6.205   24 -0.251   24 -0.235   17 -0.023   24 0.4491   13  1.356   17  0.073   21 -0.120
49ERS       8  4  0 281 261  0.262  6.986    4  0.341    4  0.356    6  0.203    5 0.5737   16  1.302    9  0.226    8  0.180
RAMS        9  2  0 306 179  0.320  6.331    1  0.498    1  0.511    1  0.583    1 0.6329   21  1.173    5  0.435    1  0.730

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  6  5  0 259 284  0.247  6.580   10  0.188   10  0.189   14  0.034   10 0.5470    7  1.450    8  0.264   24 -0.196
FALCONS     4  7  0 219 249 -0.117  5.193   22 -0.220   22 -0.224   21 -0.117   22 0.4533   22  1.170   25 -0.268   13  0.033
PANTHERS    6  6  0 216 269 -0.086  5.893   19 -0.010   19 -0.028   24 -0.200   19 0.4938   28  1.046   29 -0.503   10  0.104
SAINTS      2  9  0 165 274 -0.012  5.969   28 -0.390   28 -0.385   31 -0.317   28 0.4166   31  0.962   31 -0.717   11  0.083

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       8  3  0 289 292 -0.285  4.377   11  0.169   11  0.158   20 -0.116   12 0.5357    5  1.501   10  0.189   30 -0.421
LIONS       7  5  0 350 274 -0.021  5.709   15  0.090   15  0.077   11  0.126   15 0.5201    6  1.480    6  0.400   23 -0.149
VIKINGS     4  7  0 224 255 -0.158  5.080   23 -0.241   23 -0.227   26 -0.225   21 0.4580   20  1.173   27 -0.373   18 -0.078
PACKERS     8  3  1 294 226 -0.076  5.476    9  0.222    9  0.216   10  0.166    9 0.5482   26  1.151   19 -0.009    6  0.342

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     6  5  1 351 342 -0.057  5.793   17  0.045   17  0.031   15  0.013   17 0.5079    1  1.752    1  0.715   31 -0.689
GIANTS      2 10  0 264 334  0.098  6.734   29 -0.390   29 -0.387   22 -0.127   26 0.4181    8  1.429   16  0.073   29 -0.327
COMMANDERS  3  8  0 236 296 -0.066  5.520   26 -0.317   26 -0.307   25 -0.223   27 0.4176   14  1.330   23 -0.163   28 -0.284
EAGLES      8  3  0 255 225  0.201  6.250    3  0.360    3  0.374    7  0.184    2 0.5911   24  1.156   18  0.016    5  0.353

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   28 17  0 0.622    1  0.566
AFC SOUTH  22 22  0 0.500    2  0.272
AFC WEST   24 21  0 0.533    3  0.046
NFC NORTH  27 18  1 0.598    4 -0.020
NFC EAST   19 26  1 0.424    5 -0.073
AFC EAST   23 22  0 0.511    6 -0.162
NFC SOUTH  18 27  0 0.400    7 -0.282
AFC NORTH  19 27  0 0.413    8 -0.316

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Fri Nov 28 05:30:11 2025
games through: Thu Nov 27 2025

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