Worth the replay?

Sunday, September 20'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
CapitalsatBruins
NHL· NHL NetOvertimeDown to the wire
B+
66/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings18/25
Comeback10/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Overtime+8
Drama 87 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 66
#2
BengalsatTexans
NFL· CBSDown to the wire
B
64/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings21/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 76 × pre-game weight 0.85 (pre-game Watchability 70) = 64
#3
EaglesatTitans
NFL· FoxDown to the wire
B
58/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings20/25
Comeback11/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 84 × pre-game weight 0.69 (pre-game Watchability 38) = 58
#4
ColtsatChiefs
NFL· NBCOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth
B
58/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings23/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Overtime+8
Drama 93 × pre-game weight 0.62 (pre-game Watchability 23) = 58
#5
PackersatJets
NFL· FoxOvertimeDown to the wireBig comeback
B
57/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings22/25
Comeback16/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Overtime+8
Drama 95 × pre-game weight 0.60 (pre-game Watchability 20) = 57
#6
VikingsatBears
NFL· FoxDown to the wire
B
56/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings25/25
Comeback9/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 82 × pre-game weight 0.68 (pre-game Watchability 36) = 56
#7
JaguarsatBroncos
NFL· CBSDown to the wireBig comeback
C+
55/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings18/25
Comeback16/20
Decided late7/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 73 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 49) = 55
#8
BrownsatBuccaneers
NFL· CBSDown to the wireBig comebackBack and forth
C+
47/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings20/25
Comeback17/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth10/10
Drama 91 × pre-game weight 0.52 (pre-game Watchability 4) = 47
#9
SaintsatRavens
NFL· CBSDown to the wireBig comeback
C+
47/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings14/25
Comeback17/20
Decided late15/15
Back-and-forth5/10
Drama 81 × pre-game weight 0.58 (pre-game Watchability 15) = 47
#10
KrakenatFlames
NHL· NHL NetDown to the wire
C
43/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings19/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late5/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 57 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 43
#11
RaidersatChargers
NFL· CBSDown to the wire
C
41/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension30/30
Swings16/25
Comeback11/20
Decided late12/15
Back-and-forth8/10
Drama 77 × pre-game weight 0.53 (pre-game Watchability 7) = 41
#12
IslandersatDevils
NHL· NHL Net
D
34/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30
Swings11/25
Comeback7/20
Decided late4/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 45 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 34
#13
HurricanesatPanthers
NHL· ESPN+
D
30/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension5/30
Swings23/25
Comeback6/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Drama 40 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 30
#14
PredatorsatLightning
NHL· ESPN+
D
23/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension20/30
Swings3/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late4/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 31 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 23
#15
SharksatDucks
NHLOne-sided
D
18/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension1/30
Swings11/25
Comeback6/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth7/10
Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18
#16
MammothatAvalanche
NHL· ESPN+One-sided
D
18/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension5/30
Swings16/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 24 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 18
#17
SeahawksatCardinals
NFL· FoxOne-sided
D
12/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings14/25
Comeback5/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth3/10
Drama 22 × pre-game weight 0.55 (pre-game Watchability 10) = 12
#18
CommandersatCowboys
NFL· FoxOne-sided
D
10/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension5/30
Swings10/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 28) = 10
#19
SteelersatPatriots
NFL· CBSOne-sided
D
5/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension2/30
Swings5/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 7 × pre-game weight 0.71 (pre-game Watchability 43) = 5
#20
PanthersatFalcons
NFL· FoxOne-sided
D
3/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings5/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 5 × pre-game weight 0.64 (pre-game Watchability 28) = 3
#21
Dolphinsat49ers
NFL· FoxOne-sided
D
0/100
▸ Why this grade
Late tension0/30
Swings0/25
Comeback0/20
Decided late0/15
Back-and-forth0/10
Drama 0 × pre-game weight 0.50 (pre-game Watchability 1) = 0

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.