Worth the replay?

1. #1

   BillsatRams

   NFL· ESPN/ABCOvertimeDown to the wireBack and forth

   A+

   96/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings25/25

   Comeback13/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

   Overtime+8

   Drama 100 × pre-game weight 0.96 (pre-game Watchability 92) = 96

2. #2

   ThunderatHawks

   NBADown to the wireBack and forth

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback5/20

   Decided late15/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

3. #3

   NetsatWizards

   NBABack and forth

   B

   59/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension30/30

   Swings18/25

   Comeback8/20

   Decided late12/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

4. #4

   PanthersatSabres

   NHL· ESPN+Back and forth

   C

   37/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings15/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth10/10

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

5. #5

   Golden KnightsatWild

   NHL· ESPN+

   D

   32/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension20/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late4/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 33 × pre-game weight 0.97 (pre-game Watchability 94) = 32

6. #6

   TimberwolvesatKnicks

   NBA· NBA TVOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension1/30

   Swings14/25

   Comeback2/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 19 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

7. #7

   SpursatJazz

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   14/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension3/30

   Swings12/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth3/10

   Drama 18 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 14

8. #8

   SenatorsatDevils

   NHL· NHL NetOne-sided

   D

   11/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension5/30

   Swings9/25

   Comeback1/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 15 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 11

9. #9

   LionsatTrail Blazers

   NBAOne-sided

   D

   9/100
   ▸ Why this grade

   Late tension0/30

   Swings11/25

   Comeback0/20

   Decided late0/15

   Back-and-forth0/10

   Drama 12 × pre-game weight 0.75 (pre-game Watchability 50, estimated) = 9

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.