Worth the replay?

1. #1

   HeatatHawks

   NBA· NBA TVOvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth

   A

   75/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback19/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 75

2. #2

   BearsatCommanders

   NFL· ABCDown to the wire

   B

   64/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback14/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 86 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

3. #3

   KingsatWild

   NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire

   B

   60/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 79 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 60

4. #4

   Red WingsatMaple Leafs

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   53/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings23/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 53

5. #5

   PanthersatFlyers

   NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire

   C+

   50/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late11/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 50

6. #6

   SpursatPacers

   NBA

   C

   44/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension13/30

   Swings22/25

   Comeback12/20

   Decided late3/15

   Back-and-forth8/10

   Drama 58 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 44

7. #7

   BillsatFalcons

   NFL· ESPN

   C

   35/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension22/30

   Swings13/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late5/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 47 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

8. #8

   MammothatBlackhawks

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   33/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings16/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 44 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 33

9. #9

   DevilsatBlue Jackets

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   32/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 43 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 32

10. #10

    LightningatBruins

    NHL· NHL Net

    D

    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings11/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 36 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 27

11. #11

    PredatorsatSenators

    NHL· ESPN+

    D

    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension20/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late4/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 25

12. #12

    MavericksatJazz

    NBA· NBA TV

    D

    24/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension11/30

    Swings13/25

    Comeback3/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 32 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 24

13. #13

    WizardsatKnicks

    NBAOne-sided

    D

    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension0/30

    Swings12/25

    Comeback3/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

14. #14

    AvalancheatSabres

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    11/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings6/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

15. #15

    BluesatCanucks

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

16. #16

    JetsatIslanders

    NHL· ESPN+One-sided

    D

    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade

    Late tension5/30

    Swings9/25

    Comeback0/20

    Decided late0/15

    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 14 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 10

Ranked from each game's win probability as it was played (ESPN's for football and basketball; ours, from the goals, for hockey): how in doubt it was near the end, how far the winner came back from, how late it was decided, how big its momentum swings were and how often a team erased a deficit, with a bonus for overtime. That drama is then weighted by how good a matchup it was going in (its pre-game Watchability score), so a thriller between top teams ranks above an equally wild game between minor ones.