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
SEAHAWKS   14  3  0 483 292  0.246  9.289    1  0.660    1  0.656    1  0.655    1 0.6219   21  1.228    2  0.582    1  0.729
JAGUARS    13  4  0 474 336  0.172  8.902    3  0.519    2  0.523    3  0.482    3 0.5924   15  1.341    3  0.559    5  0.404
RAMS       13  5  0 552 377  0.268 10.144    2  0.522    3  0.510    2  0.539    2 0.5940    5  1.498    1  0.842    7  0.236
BRONCOS    14  3  0 401 311 -0.085  7.596    4  0.487    4  0.508    8  0.194    6 0.5799   24  1.155   15  0.027    6  0.361
49ERS      12  5  0 437 371  0.218  9.504    5  0.462    5  0.486    6  0.266    5 0.5822   13  1.351   10  0.358   10  0.174
TEXANS     12  5  0 404 295  0.252  9.526    6  0.459    6  0.469    4  0.364    4 0.5844   27  1.063   13  0.084    2  0.645
PATRIOTS   14  3  0 490 320 -0.252  6.442    7  0.370    7  0.366    5  0.302    7 0.5717   12  1.354    8  0.398    9  0.206
BILLS      12  5  0 481 365 -0.106  7.474    8  0.273    8  0.266    7  0.213    8 0.5545    6  1.490    4  0.505   19 -0.079
BEARS      12  6  0 472 442 -0.083  8.368    9  0.241    9  0.233   12  0.089    9 0.5372    7  1.488    9  0.378   22 -0.199
EAGLES     11  6  0 379 325 -0.003  8.325   10  0.235   10  0.229   10  0.129   11 0.5349   28  1.050   22 -0.167    4  0.425
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CHARGERS   11  6  0 368 340 -0.043  8.191   11  0.220   11  0.214   15  0.027   10 0.5362   23  1.173   20 -0.118   11  0.171
STEELERS   10  7  0 397 387 -0.038  8.280   12  0.129   12  0.127   17 -0.017   12 0.5251   16  1.290   17 -0.008   16 -0.026
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413  0.006  8.403   13  0.050   13  0.042   14  0.076   17 0.5018    4  1.517    7  0.408   26 -0.257
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.193  9.376   14  0.044   14  0.038    9  0.162   13 0.5116    3  1.524    5  0.505   20 -0.181
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.024  8.356   15  0.042   15  0.033   13  0.076   14 0.5057   31  0.982   24 -0.299    3  0.452
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.038  8.710   16  0.028   16  0.015   16 -0.007   16 0.5021   22  1.226   18 -0.084   15  0.069
BUCCANEERS  8  9  0 380 411  0.042  8.887   17  0.012   17  0.001   20 -0.091   15 0.5044   11  1.370   14  0.027   23 -0.209
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.040  9.575   18 -0.046   18 -0.051   21 -0.108   18 0.4962   25  1.085   27 -0.361   13  0.146
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.021  8.578   19 -0.059   19 -0.055   19 -0.086   19 0.4942   20  1.243   21 -0.141   17 -0.031
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.024  8.275   20 -0.077   20 -0.075   11  0.104   20 0.4869    8  1.392   11  0.253   18 -0.045
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.146  7.726   21 -0.178   21 -0.179   25 -0.218   22 0.4560    1  1.762    6  0.503   32 -0.938
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.171  7.776   22 -0.232   22 -0.234   28 -0.298   21 0.4624   18  1.251   26 -0.342   25 -0.254
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328  0.000  8.417   23 -0.259   23 -0.261   18 -0.034   25 0.4493   26  1.072   25 -0.303    8  0.236
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.073  8.399   24 -0.275   24 -0.278   23 -0.163   23 0.4559   29  1.029   29 -0.484   12  0.157
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.086  8.315   25 -0.281   25 -0.284   24 -0.197   24 0.4502    2  1.580   12  0.231   30 -0.624
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.065  8.422   26 -0.359   26 -0.363   27 -0.275   27 0.4247   14  1.346   23 -0.190   29 -0.361
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.174  7.798   27 -0.430   27 -0.439   29 -0.318   28 0.4230   32  0.924   31 -0.759   14  0.123
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.141 10.156   29 -0.451   28 -0.449   30 -0.353   29 0.4212   19  1.248   28 -0.401   27 -0.305
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.177 10.071   28 -0.447   29 -0.454   26 -0.230   26 0.4261    9  1.377   19 -0.102   28 -0.357
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.047  8.405   30 -0.468   30 -0.470   22 -0.109   30 0.4096   10  1.377   16  0.019   24 -0.236
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.063  8.910   31 -0.565   31 -0.545   31 -0.527   32 0.3967   30  1.011   32 -0.869   21 -0.185
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.149  8.307   32 -0.626   32 -0.611   32 -0.654   31 0.4003   17  1.274   30 -0.667   31 -0.641

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
BRONCOS    14  3  0 401 311 -0.085  7.596    4  0.487    4  0.508    8  0.194    6 0.5799   24  1.155   15  0.027    6  0.361
CHARGERS   11  6  0 368 340 -0.043  8.191   11  0.220   11  0.214   15  0.027   10 0.5362   23  1.173   20 -0.118   11  0.171
CHIEFS      6 11  0 362 328  0.000  8.417   23 -0.259   23 -0.261   18 -0.034   25 0.4493   26  1.072   25 -0.303    8  0.236
RAIDERS     3 14  0 241 432 -0.063  8.910   31 -0.565   31 -0.545   31 -0.527   32 0.3967   30  1.011   32 -0.869   21 -0.185

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    13  4  0 474 336  0.172  8.902    3  0.519    2  0.523    3  0.482    3 0.5924   15  1.341    3  0.559    5  0.404
TEXANS     12  5  0 404 295  0.252  9.526    6  0.459    6  0.469    4  0.364    4 0.5844   27  1.063   13  0.084    2  0.645
COLTS       8  9  0 466 412  0.193  9.376   14  0.044   14  0.038    9  0.162   13 0.5116    3  1.524    5  0.505   20 -0.181
TITANS      3 14  0 284 478  0.141 10.156   29 -0.451   28 -0.449   30 -0.353   29 0.4212   19  1.248   28 -0.401   27 -0.305

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
STEELERS   10  7  0 397 387 -0.038  8.280   12  0.129   12  0.127   17 -0.017   12 0.5251   16  1.290   17 -0.008   16 -0.026
RAVENS      8  9  0 424 398 -0.024  8.275   20 -0.077   20 -0.075   11  0.104   20 0.4869    8  1.392   11  0.253   18 -0.045
BENGALS     6 11  0 414 492 -0.086  8.315   25 -0.281   25 -0.284   24 -0.197   24 0.4502    2  1.580   12  0.231   30 -0.624
BROWNS      5 12  0 279 379 -0.174  7.798   27 -0.430   27 -0.439   29 -0.318   28 0.4230   32  0.924   31 -0.759   14  0.123

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
PATRIOTS   14  3  0 490 320 -0.252  6.442    7  0.370    7  0.366    5  0.302    7 0.5717   12  1.354    8  0.398    9  0.206
BILLS      12  5  0 481 365 -0.106  7.474    8  0.273    8  0.266    7  0.213    8 0.5545    6  1.490    4  0.505   19 -0.079
DOLPHINS    7 10  0 347 424 -0.171  7.776   22 -0.232   22 -0.234   28 -0.298   21 0.4624   18  1.251   26 -0.342   25 -0.254
JETS        3 14  0 300 503 -0.149  8.307   32 -0.626   32 -0.611   32 -0.654   31 0.4003   17  1.274   30 -0.667   31 -0.641

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   14  3  0 483 292  0.246  9.289    1  0.660    1  0.656    1  0.655    1 0.6219   21  1.228    2  0.582    1  0.729
RAMS       13  5  0 552 377  0.268 10.144    2  0.522    3  0.510    2  0.539    2 0.5940    5  1.498    1  0.842    7  0.236
49ERS      12  5  0 437 371  0.218  9.504    5  0.462    5  0.486    6  0.266    5 0.5822   13  1.351   10  0.358   10  0.174
CARDINALS   3 14  0 355 488  0.177 10.071   28 -0.447   29 -0.454   26 -0.230   26 0.4261    9  1.377   19 -0.102   28 -0.357

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  8  9  0 380 411  0.042  8.887   17  0.012   17  0.001   20 -0.091   15 0.5044   11  1.370   14  0.027   23 -0.209
PANTHERS    8 10  0 342 414  0.040  9.575   18 -0.046   18 -0.051   21 -0.108   18 0.4962   25  1.085   27 -0.361   13  0.146
FALCONS     8  9  0 353 401 -0.021  8.578   19 -0.059   19 -0.055   19 -0.086   19 0.4942   20  1.243   21 -0.141   17 -0.031
SAINTS      6 11  0 306 383 -0.073  8.399   24 -0.275   24 -0.278   23 -0.163   23 0.4559   29  1.029   29 -0.484   12  0.157

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      12  6  0 472 442 -0.083  8.368    9  0.241    9  0.233   12  0.089    9 0.5372    7  1.488    9  0.378   22 -0.199
LIONS       9  8  0 481 413  0.006  8.403   13  0.050   13  0.042   14  0.076   17 0.5018    4  1.517    7  0.408   26 -0.257
VIKINGS     9  8  0 344 333 -0.024  8.356   15  0.042   15  0.033   13  0.076   14 0.5057   31  0.982   24 -0.299    3  0.452
PACKERS     9  8  1 418 391 -0.038  8.710   16  0.028   16  0.015   16 -0.007   16 0.5021   22  1.226   18 -0.084   15  0.069

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
EAGLES     11  6  0 379 325 -0.003  8.325   10  0.235   10  0.229   10  0.129   11 0.5349   28  1.050   22 -0.167    4  0.425
COWBOYS     7  9  1 471 511 -0.146  7.726   21 -0.178   21 -0.179   25 -0.218   22 0.4560    1  1.762    6  0.503   32 -0.938
COMMANDERS  5 12  0 356 451 -0.065  8.422   26 -0.359   26 -0.363   27 -0.275   27 0.4247   14  1.346   23 -0.190   29 -0.361
GIANTS      4 13  0 381 439 -0.047  8.405   30 -0.468   30 -0.470   22 -0.109   30 0.4096   10  1.377   16  0.019   24 -0.236

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   42 27  0 0.609    1  0.540
AFC SOUTH  36 32  0 0.529    2  0.290
NFC NORTH  39 30  1 0.564    3  0.084
AFC WEST   34 34  0 0.500    4 -0.077
AFC EAST   36 32  0 0.529    5 -0.170
NFC EAST   27 40  1 0.404    6 -0.193
NFC SOUTH  30 39  0 0.435    7 -0.201
AFC NORTH  29 39  0 0.426    8 -0.226

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

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Jan 11 05:30:09 2026
games through: Sat Jan 10 2026

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