Worth the replay?

Sunday, December 28'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
    WarriorsatRaptors
    NBAOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
    A
    75/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback18/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10
    Overtime+8

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

  2. #2
    LibertyatFIU
    CBB· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    73/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings22/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 98 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 73

  3. #3
    GrizzliesatWizards
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    72/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 96 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 72

  4. #4
    CelticsatTrail Blazers
    NBADown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    71/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback20/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 94 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 71

  5. #5
    Bearsat49ers
    NFL· NBC/PeacockDown to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    69/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback12/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 92 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 69

  6. #6
    N ColoradoatColorado
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
    B+
    68/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

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

  7. #7
    Maple LeafsatRed Wings
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B+
    67/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth7/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 89 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 67

  8. #8
    HarvardatColgate
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B+
    66/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 88 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66

  9. #9
    EaglesatBills
    NFL· FoxDown to the wireBig comeback
    B
    64/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback15/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 85 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 64

  10. #10
    Le MoyneatBoston College
    CBB· ACCNXBack and forth
    B
    63/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings23/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 63

  11. #11
    Washington StatPortland
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback14/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  12. #12
    CanadiensatLightning
    NHL· ESPN+OvertimeDown to the wire
    B
    61/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth3/10
    Overtime+8

    Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 61

  13. #13
    Saint Mary'satLMU
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wireBack and forth
    B
    59/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings21/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth10/10

    Drama 78 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 59

  14. #14
    Charleston SoatRichmond
    CBB· ESPN+Big comeback
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension23/30
    Swings25/25
    Comeback16/20
    Decided late8/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  15. #15
    SaintsatTitans
    NFL· CBSDown to the wire
    B
    57/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings19/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

    Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 57

  16. #16
    IslandersatBlue Jackets
    NHL· ESPN+Down to the wire
    B
    55/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback6/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth7/10

    Drama 74 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 55

  17. #17
    JaguarsatColts
    NFL· FoxDown to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback8/20
    Decided late12/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  18. #18
    San FranciscoatSeattle U
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    54/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings20/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late14/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 71 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 54

  19. #19
    SteelersatBrowns
    NFL· CBSDown to the wire
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings14/25
    Comeback9/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  20. #20
    PennatGeorge Mason
    CBB· ESPN+
    C+
    51/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension28/30
    Swings18/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late15/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 68 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 51

  21. #21
    ColumbiaatNorth Florida
    CBB· ESPN+Down to the wire
    C+
    48/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension30/30
    Swings16/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late11/15
    Back-and-forth8/10

    Drama 65 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 48

  22. #22
    BuccaneersatDolphins
    NFL· Fox
    D
    33/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension18/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback13/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  23. #23
    Norfolk StatLouisiana
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    25/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings17/25
    Comeback7/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

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

  24. #24
    UL MonroeatKansas St
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension19/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  25. #25
    McPhersonatKansas City
    CBB
    D
    22/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension17/30
    Swings6/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late2/15
    Back-and-forth5/10

    Drama 30 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 22

  26. #26
    PacificatSan Diego
    CBB· ESPN+
    D
    20/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension9/30
    Swings13/25
    Comeback5/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 27 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 20

  27. #27
    FlyersatKraken
    NHL· NHL NetOne-sided
    D
    13/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension5/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 13

  28. #28
    PistonsatClippers
    NBAOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension2/30
    Swings11/25
    Comeback2/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 16 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 12

  29. #29
    SeahawksatPanthers
    NFL· CBSOne-sided
    D
    12/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension6/30
    Swings7/25
    Comeback0/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth3/10

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

  30. #30
    GiantsatRaiders
    NFL· CBSOne-sided
    D
    10/100
    ▸ Why this grade
    Late tension0/30
    Swings10/25
    Comeback3/20
    Decided late0/15
    Back-and-forth0/10

    Drama 13 × 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.

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