Worth the replay?

1. #1

   ChiefsatCowboys

   NFL· CBS/Paramount+Back and forth

   B

   57/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension25/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late13/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

2. #2

   BengalsatRavens

   NFL· NBC/Peacock

   D

   26/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension4/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback11/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth5/10

   Drama 35 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 26

3. #3

   PackersatLions

   NFL· Fox

   D

   23/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension17/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23

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.