Worth the replay?

Saturday, December 27's games ranked by how good they turned out to be: late drama, comebacks, lead swaps and overtime. No scores, no winners, so you can decide what to watch without spoilers.

Best games of the season →
  1. #1
    Georgia TechatBYU
    CFB· ABCDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A+
    90/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback17/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.95 (pre-game Watchability 90, estimated) = 90

  2. #2
    BlackhawksatStars
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  3. #3
    AvalancheatGolden Knights
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

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

  4. #4
    CapitalsatDevils
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback11/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 99 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  5. #5
    NuggetsatMagic
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    74/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 74

  6. #6
    WildatJets
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 97 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  7. #7
    JazzatSpurs
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 68

  8. #8
    LSUatHouston
    CFB· ESPNDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 68

  9. #9
    VirginiaatMissouri
    CFB· ABCDown to the wire
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 80 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 66

  10. #10
    KnicksatHawks
    NBA· NBA TVDown to the wire
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 75 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  11. #11
    BucksatBulls
    NBADown to the wireBack and forth
    B
    56/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 56

  12. #12
    CSU NorthridgeatStanford
    CBB· ACCNXDown to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 67 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  13. #13
    SunsatPelicans
    NBADown to the wire
    C+
    46/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late10/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 61 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 46

  14. #14
    PittatEast Carolina
    CFB· ESPNBack and forth
    C
    45/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback10/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 64 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 45

  15. #15
    SenatorsatMaple Leafs
    NHL· ESPN+
    C
    37/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late5/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 50 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 37

  16. #16
    TexansatChargers
    NFL· NFL Net
    D
    35/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 46 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 35

  17. #17
    OilersatFlames
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  18. #18
    NetsatTimberwolves
    NBABig comeback
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

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

  19. #19
    LightningatPanthers
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    32/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension20/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  20. #20
    SharksatCanucks
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    31/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension22/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late6/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 41 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 31

  21. #21
    RavensatPackers
    NFL· Peacock
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension16/30
    Swings15/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late1/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 38 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

  22. #22
    North TexasatSan Diego St
    CFB· ESPNBack and forth
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback1/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 34 × pre-game weight 0.82 (pre-game Watchability 65, estimated) = 28

  23. #23
    Red WingsatHurricanes
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    28/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 37 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 28

  24. #24
    MavericksatKings
    NBA· NBA TV
    D
    27/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension15/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  25. #25
    RangersatIslanders
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    26/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension21/30
    Swings9/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late4/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  26. #26
    PredatorsatBlues
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 29 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  27. #27
    Penn StateatClemson
    CFB· ABC
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 21

  28. #28
    PacersatHeat
    NBA
    D
    21/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 28 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 21

  29. #29
    BruinsatSabres
    NHL· ESPN+
    D
    19/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension4/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback4/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 26 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 19

  30. #30
    UConnatArmy
    CFB· ESPNOne-sided
    D
    17/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings12/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 25 × pre-game weight 0.70 (pre-game Watchability 40, estimated) = 17

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.

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