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
VIKINGS    5 0 0 109  64  0.158  2.513    1  0.129    1  0.135    2  0.088    1 0.6082   32  0.880   30 -0.401    1  0.577 P
49ERS      6 0 0 177 110 -0.141  2.266    2  0.122    2  0.125    6  0.071    2 0.5657   12  1.355   10  0.168   18 -0.026
CHIEFS     5 0 0 140  83 -0.141  1.893    3  0.108    3  0.107    5  0.077    3 0.5644   19  1.232   18  0.008   11  0.146 P
BEARS      5 2 0 180 143  0.254  3.976    5  0.102    4  0.103    4  0.077    4 0.5503   11  1.389    8  0.222   22 -0.068
BILLS      5 1 0 197 171  0.042  2.942    4  0.103    5  0.103   11  0.037    5 0.5324    1  1.723    1  0.692   32 -0.618
BRONCOS    4 2 0 114 125  0.179  3.417    6  0.081    6  0.075   15  0.012    6 0.5214   25  1.113   25 -0.208    7  0.232
BROWNS     4 2 0 106 122  0.164  3.400    9  0.065    7  0.073   17  0.006    7 0.5161   29  1.026   28 -0.320    2  0.332
PACKERS    4 2 0 127 125  0.170  3.291    7  0.077    8  0.070    8  0.048   10 0.5119   23  1.200   19 -0.063   10  0.159
JAGUARS    4 2 0 154 104  0.186  3.125    8  0.073    9  0.065    1  0.095    9 0.5119   17  1.279   13  0.088   13  0.102
PATRIOTS   4 3 0 160 143  0.322  4.206   10  0.057   10  0.063    3  0.080    8 0.5131   24  1.139   24 -0.108    6  0.269
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
STEELERS   4 2 0 137 128  0.074  3.120   11  0.046   11  0.061   13  0.015   12 0.4972   22  1.218   20 -0.072   12  0.103
BENGALS    3 2 0 128 109  0.128  2.611   12  0.025   12  0.036    9  0.044   14 0.4608   10  1.405    9  0.210   23 -0.122 P
PANTHERS   3 2 0 146 123  0.141  2.617   13  0.024   13  0.036    7  0.057   11 0.5051    5  1.525    3  0.400   26 -0.286 P
LIONS      3 2 0 164 148  0.055  2.484   14  0.014   14  0.033   10  0.039   13 0.4914    2  1.619    2  0.527   31 -0.449 P
RAVENS     4 2 0 156 132 -0.229  2.369   15  0.011   15  0.027   21 -0.006   16 0.4484   13  1.324   15  0.047   21 -0.060
RAIDERS    3 3 0 162 162  0.003  2.931   16 -0.008   16  0.004   19  0.004   15 0.4518    4  1.533    4  0.359   28 -0.351
SEAHAWKS   3 3 0 148 122 -0.055  2.661   17 -0.016   17 -0.007   12  0.032   17 0.4375   15  1.284   16  0.032   16  0.032
GIANTS     3 2 1 136 140 -0.508  1.864   18 -0.029   18 -0.026   28 -0.072   23 0.3802   18  1.264   23 -0.099   20 -0.044
FALCONS    2 4 0 142 153  0.137  3.343   19 -0.033   19 -0.027   18  0.005   18 0.4320   14  1.319   14  0.052   19 -0.042
JETS       2 4 0 112 122  0.126  3.273   20 -0.036   20 -0.030   16  0.011   19 0.4267   27  1.080   26 -0.250    5  0.272
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SAINTS     2 4 0 152 178  0.010  3.088   21 -0.042   21 -0.039   23 -0.028   20 0.4130    3  1.546    5  0.346   30 -0.403
TEXANS     2 4 0 144 143 -0.041  2.848   22 -0.047   22 -0.046   14  0.012   27 0.3555   16  1.283   17  0.010   17  0.014
EAGLES     2 4 0 106 137 -0.120  2.939   25 -0.060   23 -0.047   27 -0.053   26 0.3705   26  1.092   27 -0.300    9  0.193
CARDINALS  2 4 0 126 178 -0.146  2.891   23 -0.050   24 -0.050   30 -0.078   22 0.3815    8  1.433   11  0.128   25 -0.285
RAMS       2 4 0 135 138 -0.143  2.653   24 -0.058   25 -0.060   22 -0.016   21 0.4002   20  1.229   22 -0.089   15  0.057
COWBOYS    2 4 0 151 159 -0.176  2.616   26 -0.070   26 -0.060   24 -0.034   29 0.3468    7  1.491    7  0.257   27 -0.326
COLTS      2 4 0 144 164 -0.211  2.602   27 -0.074   27 -0.066   25 -0.045   28 0.3535    6  1.504    6  0.266   29 -0.356
BUCCANEERS 1 5 0 119 138  0.112  3.285   28 -0.085   28 -0.079   20 -0.002   24 0.3733   21  1.224   21 -0.082   14  0.079
DOLPHINS   0 5 0  70 132  0.311  3.350   29 -0.090   29 -0.083   26 -0.052   25 0.3731   28  1.073   29 -0.321    8  0.217 P
COMMANDERS 1 4 1 132 172 -0.220  2.680   30 -0.093   30 -0.090   29 -0.075   30 0.3284    9  1.421   12  0.116   24 -0.266
TEAM       W L T  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TITANS     1 5 0  84 129 -0.332  2.432   31 -0.116   31 -0.120   32 -0.114   32 0.2778   31  0.921   32 -0.560    3  0.331
CHARGERS   0 6 0  90 151 -0.071  3.189   32 -0.131   32 -0.136   31 -0.089   31 0.3145   30  0.990   31 -0.456    4  0.278

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     5 0 0 140  83 -0.141  1.893    3  0.108    3  0.107    5  0.077    3 0.5644   19  1.232   18  0.008   11  0.146 P
BRONCOS    4 2 0 114 125  0.179  3.417    6  0.081    6  0.075   15  0.012    6 0.5214   25  1.113   25 -0.208    7  0.232
RAIDERS    3 3 0 162 162  0.003  2.931   16 -0.008   16  0.004   19  0.004   15 0.4518    4  1.533    4  0.359   28 -0.351
CHARGERS   0 6 0  90 151 -0.071  3.189   32 -0.131   32 -0.136   31 -0.089   31 0.3145   30  0.990   31 -0.456    4  0.278

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 2 0 154 104  0.186  3.125    8  0.073    9  0.065    1  0.095    9 0.5119   17  1.279   13  0.088   13  0.102
TEXANS     2 4 0 144 143 -0.041  2.848   22 -0.047   22 -0.046   14  0.012   27 0.3555   16  1.283   17  0.010   17  0.014
COLTS      2 4 0 144 164 -0.211  2.602   27 -0.074   27 -0.066   25 -0.045   28 0.3535    6  1.504    6  0.266   29 -0.356
TITANS     1 5 0  84 129 -0.332  2.432   31 -0.116   31 -0.120   32 -0.114   32 0.2778   31  0.921   32 -0.560    3  0.331

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
BROWNS     4 2 0 106 122  0.164  3.400    9  0.065    7  0.073   17  0.006    7 0.5161   29  1.026   28 -0.320    2  0.332
STEELERS   4 2 0 137 128  0.074  3.120   11  0.046   11  0.061   13  0.015   12 0.4972   22  1.218   20 -0.072   12  0.103
BENGALS    3 2 0 128 109  0.128  2.611   12  0.025   12  0.036    9  0.044   14 0.4608   10  1.405    9  0.210   23 -0.122 P
RAVENS     4 2 0 156 132 -0.229  2.369   15  0.011   15  0.027   21 -0.006   16 0.4484   13  1.324   15  0.047   21 -0.060

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      5 1 0 197 171  0.042  2.942    4  0.103    5  0.103   11  0.037    5 0.5324    1  1.723    1  0.692   32 -0.618
PATRIOTS   4 3 0 160 143  0.322  4.206   10  0.057   10  0.063    3  0.080    8 0.5131   24  1.139   24 -0.108    6  0.269
JETS       2 4 0 112 122  0.126  3.273   20 -0.036   20 -0.030   16  0.011   19 0.4267   27  1.080   26 -0.250    5  0.272
DOLPHINS   0 5 0  70 132  0.311  3.350   29 -0.090   29 -0.083   26 -0.052   25 0.3731   28  1.073   29 -0.321    8  0.217 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
49ERS      6 0 0 177 110 -0.141  2.266    2  0.122    2  0.125    6  0.071    2 0.5657   12  1.355   10  0.168   18 -0.026
SEAHAWKS   3 3 0 148 122 -0.055  2.661   17 -0.016   17 -0.007   12  0.032   17 0.4375   15  1.284   16  0.032   16  0.032
CARDINALS  2 4 0 126 178 -0.146  2.891   23 -0.050   24 -0.050   30 -0.078   22 0.3815    8  1.433   11  0.128   25 -0.285
RAMS       2 4 0 135 138 -0.143  2.653   24 -0.058   25 -0.060   22 -0.016   21 0.4002   20  1.229   22 -0.089   15  0.057

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
PANTHERS   3 2 0 146 123  0.141  2.617   13  0.024   13  0.036    7  0.057   11 0.5051    5  1.525    3  0.400   26 -0.286 P
FALCONS    2 4 0 142 153  0.137  3.343   19 -0.033   19 -0.027   18  0.005   18 0.4320   14  1.319   14  0.052   19 -0.042
SAINTS     2 4 0 152 178  0.010  3.088   21 -0.042   21 -0.039   23 -0.028   20 0.4130    3  1.546    5  0.346   30 -0.403
BUCCANEERS 1 5 0 119 138  0.112  3.285   28 -0.085   28 -0.079   20 -0.002   24 0.3733   21  1.224   21 -0.082   14  0.079

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
VIKINGS    5 0 0 109  64  0.158  2.513    1  0.129    1  0.135    2  0.088    1 0.6082   32  0.880   30 -0.401    1  0.577 P
BEARS      5 2 0 180 143  0.254  3.976    5  0.102    4  0.103    4  0.077    4 0.5503   11  1.389    8  0.222   22 -0.068
PACKERS    4 2 0 127 125  0.170  3.291    7  0.077    8  0.070    8  0.048   10 0.5119   23  1.200   19 -0.063   10  0.159
LIONS      3 2 0 164 148  0.055  2.484   14  0.014   14  0.033   10  0.039   13 0.4914    2  1.619    2  0.527   31 -0.449 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
GIANTS     3 2 1 136 140 -0.508  1.864   18 -0.029   18 -0.026   28 -0.072   23 0.3802   18  1.264   23 -0.099   20 -0.044
EAGLES     2 4 0 106 137 -0.120  2.939   25 -0.060   23 -0.047   27 -0.053   26 0.3705   26  1.092   27 -0.300    9  0.193
COWBOYS    2 4 0 151 159 -0.176  2.616   26 -0.070   26 -0.060   24 -0.034   29 0.3468    7  1.491    7  0.257   27 -0.326
COMMANDERS 1 4 1 132 172 -0.220  2.680   30 -0.093   30 -0.090   29 -0.075   30 0.3284    9  1.421   12  0.116   24 -0.266

DIVISION    W  L  T   PCT  RNK RATING
NFC NORTH  17  6  0 0.739    1  0.421
AFC NORTH  15  8  0 0.652    2  0.092
AFC EAST   11 13  0 0.458    3  0.087
NFC SOUTH   8 15  0 0.348    4  0.043
NFC WEST   13 11  0 0.542    5  0.015
AFC WEST   12 11  0 0.522    6 -0.002
AFC SOUTH   9 15  0 0.375    7 -0.136
NFC EAST    8 14  2 0.375    8 -0.473

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.114 points in main ratings (0.109 for semineutral)
     0.017 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 23 05:30:10 2026
games through: Thu Oct 22 2026

Back to Dolphin rankings main page.