Solving Today’s Sports Connections: Hints and Answers (October 7)

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The New York Times’ daily Connections: Sports Edition puzzle offers a unique challenge for sports enthusiasts. Today’s iteration, puzzle #379, presents a varied collection of sports-related terms, and for some players, it might require a little help. This guide provides hints and the ultimate answers to help you conquer the puzzle, whether you’re a seasoned solver or just beginning your Connections journey.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

Connections: Sports Edition is a daily word puzzle published by The Athletic, a sports journalism site owned by The New York Times. Unlike the regular Connections puzzle found within the NYT Games app, this version lives within The Athletic ‘s app, or can be played for free online. This difference can be confusing for players familiar with the standard Connections game.

Hints to Get You Started

If you’re feeling stumped, here are hints to guide you toward the correct groupings, progressing from the most accessible to the more difficult:

  • Yellow Group: Think about why athletes might miss games.
  • Green Group: This group revolves around a well-known shoe brand.
  • Blue Group: Consider phrases related to achieving success in baseball.
  • Purple Group: Focus on roles within American football.

The Answers Revealed

Let’s break down today’s groupings and their solutions:

The Yellow Group: NFL Injury Report Designations

The theme for the yellow group is the language used to describe player availability in the National Football League. These terms appear on the official injury reports.

  • Doubtful
  • Out
  • Probable
  • Questionable

The Green Group: Adidas Shoes

This group centers on a popular athletic footwear brand. If you’re familiar with Adidas’s classic shoe models, this one should be straightforward.

  • Gazelle
  • Samba
  • Superstar
  • Ultraboost

The Blue Group: MLB Career Home Run Leaders, Familiarly

The blue group taps into baseball lore, asking you to identify legendary power hitters. The key is to think of familiar nicknames or shortened versions of these players’ names.

  • Albert (Referring to Albert Pujols)
  • Babe (Referring to Babe Ruth)
  • Barry (Referring to Barry Bonds)
  • Hank (Referring to Hank Aaron)

The Purple Group: Current NFL Tight Ends

The final and often most challenging group focuses on contemporary players in a specific football position. The key here is familiarity with today’s NFL roster and understanding which players currently play as tight ends.

  • Henry (Referring to Travis Henry)
  • Likely (Referring to Donald Likely)
  • Pitts (Referring to Kyle Pitts)
  • Warren (Referring to Cole Warren)

Successfully solving Connections: Sports Edition relies on both broad sports knowledge and the ability to discern patterns within seemingly disparate terms. Recognizing the underlying themes – NFL injury reports, popular shoe brands, baseball legends, and active tight ends – unlocks the puzzle’s solutions.

With today’s answers in hand, you’re ready to tackle the next Sports Connections challenge, honing your skills and expanding your sports vocabulary along the way