Cracking the Code: Today's Sports-Themed Connections Puzzle

Today's Connections: Sports Edition might have left you scratching your head. This puzzle is not your usual fare. It's a mix of sports trivia that might hit close to home if you're a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. But don't worry, help is here!

How to Play

This puzzle is a bit different. It's not in the NYT Games app. You'll find it on The Athletic's platform or online for free. It's a fun challenge, but it can be tricky.

Dive into the Hints

• Yellow Group (Easiest): All about basketball defense. Think about what players do to stop a shot.
• Green Group: About college football. Specifically, it's about where the playoff teams are from.
• Blue Group: All about the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Purple Group: A bit trickier. It's about something that's not five or seven.

The Answers

• Yellow Group: Stopping a basketball shot.
• Challenge
• Close out
• Contest

• Defend

• Green Group: Locations of college football playoff teams.
• Athens
• Bloomington
• Eugene

• Oxford

• Blue Group: First names of Philadelphia Eagles players.
• Cooper
• Dallas
• Jalen

• Saquon

• Purple Group: The word "six."
• Kick
• New Year's
• Original
• Pick

How Did You Do?

Did you get all the answers right? Or did you need a little help? Either way, it's all about having fun and learning something new.