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
RAMS        9  3  0 334 210  0.298  6.871    1  0.444    1  0.462    1  0.556    1 0.6077   19  1.275    4  0.549    2  0.562
BRONCOS    10  2  0 284 218 -0.054  5.450    2  0.432    2  0.446   10  0.151    2 0.5831   25  1.117   20 -0.059    5  0.360
49ERS       9  4  0 307 269  0.255  7.447    3  0.402    3  0.417    5  0.275    4 0.5718   18  1.277    8  0.272    8  0.279
SEAHAWKS    9  3  0 350 217  0.190  6.214    4  0.395    4  0.400    2  0.493    3 0.5767   11  1.348    2  0.586    4  0.399
JAGUARS     8  4  0 292 253  0.227  6.759    6  0.329    5  0.327    6  0.272    7 0.5658   13  1.328    7  0.338    9  0.207
PATRIOTS   11  2  0 351 241 -0.304  4.725    5  0.332    6  0.321    9  0.160    6 0.5678   14  1.312   11  0.203   10  0.116
EAGLES      8  4  0 270 249  0.100  6.403    7  0.284    7  0.278   13  0.086    5 0.5686   24  1.129   23 -0.108    7  0.280
TEXANS      7  5  0 263 198  0.347  7.155    8  0.266    8  0.260    3  0.354    8 0.5596   32  0.955   19 -0.046    1  0.754
BUCCANEERS  7  5  0 279 301  0.241  7.111    9  0.252    9  0.257   14  0.052   10 0.5506    8  1.412    9  0.235   21 -0.132
COLTS       8  4  0 357 249  0.067  5.775   10  0.231   10  0.229    7  0.270   13 0.5376    4  1.495    3  0.574   16 -0.034
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BEARS       9  3  0 313 307 -0.257  4.868   11  0.228   11  0.221   18 -0.062    9 0.5522    6  1.488   10  0.232   29 -0.356
PACKERS     8  3  1 294 226 -0.112  5.312   12  0.218   12  0.211   11  0.150   11 0.5474   23  1.149   17 -0.019    6  0.320
BILLS       8  4  0 337 259 -0.026  5.644   13  0.205   13  0.198    8  0.239   12 0.5440    5  1.493    5  0.541   17 -0.063
CHARGERS    8  4  0 277 252 -0.174  5.186   14  0.156   14  0.144   17 -0.028   15 0.5222   17  1.278   18 -0.030   15 -0.026
LIONS       8  5  0 394 304 -0.062  5.973   15  0.125   15  0.109   12  0.138   14 0.5297    3  1.517    6  0.476   25 -0.200
PANTHERS    7  6  0 247 297  0.026  6.874   16  0.100   16  0.087   21 -0.108   16 0.5149   26  1.115   27 -0.320   11  0.104
CHIEFS      6  6  0 305 232  0.111  6.224   17  0.049   17  0.031    4  0.283   17 0.5036   22  1.155   13  0.121    3  0.445
COWBOYS     6  6  1 381 386 -0.037  6.398   18 -0.006   18 -0.014   16 -0.020   19 0.4978    1  1.769    1  0.718   31 -0.758
STEELERS    6  6  0 281 289 -0.095  5.675   19 -0.028   19 -0.039   20 -0.099   18 0.5013   15  1.309   21 -0.060   23 -0.139
RAVENS      6  6  0 289 293 -0.091  5.671   20 -0.041   20 -0.053   19 -0.066   20 0.4877    9  1.406   14  0.108   26 -0.240
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
DOLPHINS    5  7  0 247 286 -0.150  5.561   21 -0.174   21 -0.178   23 -0.177   22 0.4545   20  1.243   24 -0.226   20 -0.129
VIKINGS     4  8  0 224 281 -0.124  5.827   23 -0.280   22 -0.266   28 -0.315   21 0.4561   27  1.091   28 -0.556   19 -0.074
CARDINALS   3  9  0 265 303  0.190  6.982   24 -0.288   23 -0.271   15  0.002   24 0.4428   12  1.334   15  0.075   18 -0.071
BENGALS     4  8  0 280 374 -0.132  5.783   25 -0.289   24 -0.275   26 -0.297   23 0.4539    2  1.603   12  0.172   32 -0.766
FALCONS     4  8  0 243 276 -0.096  5.735   22 -0.269   25 -0.277   22 -0.126   25 0.4420   21  1.201   25 -0.229   14 -0.023
COMMANDERS  3  9  0 262 323 -0.046  6.066   26 -0.371   26 -0.364   25 -0.205   26 0.4165   10  1.356   22 -0.101   27 -0.309
JETS        3  9  0 246 315 -0.184  5.487   27 -0.426   27 -0.427   27 -0.310   27 0.4153   16  1.288   26 -0.299   28 -0.321
SAINTS      2 10  0 182 295  0.020  6.597   28 -0.437   28 -0.437   29 -0.316   29 0.4086   30  0.968   30 -0.701   13  0.070
BROWNS      3  9  0 194 270 -0.219  5.377   29 -0.439   29 -0.442   30 -0.317   30 0.4071   31  0.963   31 -0.709   12  0.075
GIANTS      2 11  0 279 367  0.097  7.291   30 -0.449   30 -0.447   24 -0.187   28 0.4148    7  1.415   16 -0.000   30 -0.374
TEAM        W  L  T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TITANS      1 11  0 170 328  0.202  7.597   31 -0.468   31 -0.468   31 -0.376   31 0.3955   28  1.090   29 -0.619   22 -0.134
RAIDERS     2 10  0 179 308 -0.129  6.121   32 -0.481   32 -0.490   32 -0.476   32 0.3946   29  1.011   32 -0.812   24 -0.139

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    10  2  0 284 218 -0.054  5.450    2  0.432    2  0.446   10  0.151    2 0.5831   25  1.117   20 -0.059    5  0.360
CHARGERS    8  4  0 277 252 -0.174  5.186   14  0.156   14  0.144   17 -0.028   15 0.5222   17  1.278   18 -0.030   15 -0.026
CHIEFS      6  6  0 305 232  0.111  6.224   17  0.049   17  0.031    4  0.283   17 0.5036   22  1.155   13  0.121    3  0.445
RAIDERS     2 10  0 179 308 -0.129  6.121   32 -0.481   32 -0.490   32 -0.476   32 0.3946   29  1.011   32 -0.812   24 -0.139

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     8  4  0 292 253  0.227  6.759    6  0.329    5  0.327    6  0.272    7 0.5658   13  1.328    7  0.338    9  0.207
TEXANS      7  5  0 263 198  0.347  7.155    8  0.266    8  0.260    3  0.354    8 0.5596   32  0.955   19 -0.046    1  0.754
COLTS       8  4  0 357 249  0.067  5.775   10  0.231   10  0.229    7  0.270   13 0.5376    4  1.495    3  0.574   16 -0.034
TITANS      1 11  0 170 328  0.202  7.597   31 -0.468   31 -0.468   31 -0.376   31 0.3955   28  1.090   29 -0.619   22 -0.134

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    6  6  0 281 289 -0.095  5.675   19 -0.028   19 -0.039   20 -0.099   18 0.5013   15  1.309   21 -0.060   23 -0.139
RAVENS      6  6  0 289 293 -0.091  5.671   20 -0.041   20 -0.053   19 -0.066   20 0.4877    9  1.406   14  0.108   26 -0.240
BENGALS     4  8  0 280 374 -0.132  5.783   25 -0.289   24 -0.275   26 -0.297   23 0.4539    2  1.603   12  0.172   32 -0.766
BROWNS      3  9  0 194 270 -0.219  5.377   29 -0.439   29 -0.442   30 -0.317   30 0.4071   31  0.963   31 -0.709   12  0.075

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   11  2  0 351 241 -0.304  4.725    5  0.332    6  0.321    9  0.160    6 0.5678   14  1.312   11  0.203   10  0.116
BILLS       8  4  0 337 259 -0.026  5.644   13  0.205   13  0.198    8  0.239   12 0.5440    5  1.493    5  0.541   17 -0.063
DOLPHINS    5  7  0 247 286 -0.150  5.561   21 -0.174   21 -0.178   23 -0.177   22 0.4545   20  1.243   24 -0.226   20 -0.129
JETS        3  9  0 246 315 -0.184  5.487   27 -0.426   27 -0.427   27 -0.310   27 0.4153   16  1.288   26 -0.299   28 -0.321

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        9  3  0 334 210  0.298  6.871    1  0.444    1  0.462    1  0.556    1 0.6077   19  1.275    4  0.549    2  0.562
49ERS       9  4  0 307 269  0.255  7.447    3  0.402    3  0.417    5  0.275    4 0.5718   18  1.277    8  0.272    8  0.279
SEAHAWKS    9  3  0 350 217  0.190  6.214    4  0.395    4  0.400    2  0.493    3 0.5767   11  1.348    2  0.586    4  0.399
CARDINALS   3  9  0 265 303  0.190  6.982   24 -0.288   23 -0.271   15  0.002   24 0.4428   12  1.334   15  0.075   18 -0.071

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  5  0 279 301  0.241  7.111    9  0.252    9  0.257   14  0.052   10 0.5506    8  1.412    9  0.235   21 -0.132
PANTHERS    7  6  0 247 297  0.026  6.874   16  0.100   16  0.087   21 -0.108   16 0.5149   26  1.115   27 -0.320   11  0.104
FALCONS     4  8  0 243 276 -0.096  5.735   22 -0.269   25 -0.277   22 -0.126   25 0.4420   21  1.201   25 -0.229   14 -0.023
SAINTS      2 10  0 182 295  0.020  6.597   28 -0.437   28 -0.437   29 -0.316   29 0.4086   30  0.968   30 -0.701   13  0.070

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       9  3  0 313 307 -0.257  4.868   11  0.228   11  0.221   18 -0.062    9 0.5522    6  1.488   10  0.232   29 -0.356
PACKERS     8  3  1 294 226 -0.112  5.312   12  0.218   12  0.211   11  0.150   11 0.5474   23  1.149   17 -0.019    6  0.320
LIONS       8  5  0 394 304 -0.062  5.973   15  0.125   15  0.109   12  0.138   14 0.5297    3  1.517    6  0.476   25 -0.200
VIKINGS     4  8  0 224 281 -0.124  5.827   23 -0.280   22 -0.266   28 -0.315   21 0.4561   27  1.091   28 -0.556   19 -0.074

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      8  4  0 270 249  0.100  6.403    7  0.284    7  0.278   13  0.086    5 0.5686   24  1.129   23 -0.108    7  0.280
COWBOYS     6  6  1 381 386 -0.037  6.398   18 -0.006   18 -0.014   16 -0.020   19 0.4978    1  1.769    1  0.718   31 -0.758
COMMANDERS  3  9  0 262 323 -0.046  6.066   26 -0.371   26 -0.364   25 -0.205   26 0.4165   10  1.356   22 -0.101   27 -0.309
GIANTS      2 11  0 279 367  0.097  7.291   30 -0.449   30 -0.447   24 -0.187   28 0.4148    7  1.415   16 -0.000   30 -0.374

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC WEST   30 19  0 0.612    1  0.600
AFC SOUTH  24 24  0 0.500    2  0.283
AFC WEST   26 22  0 0.542    3  0.012
NFC NORTH  29 19  1 0.602    4 -0.034
AFC EAST   27 22  0 0.551    5 -0.089
NFC EAST   19 30  1 0.390    6 -0.131
NFC SOUTH  20 29  0 0.408    7 -0.221
AFC NORTH  19 29  0 0.396    8 -0.372

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 Dec  5 05:30:06 2025
games through: Thu Dec  4 2025

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