**Connections: Sports Edition – A Fresh Challenge for Sports Enthusiasts**
*Connections: Sports Edition* offers a new twist on the well-known [New York Times word game](https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections) aimed at evaluating the knowledge of sports lovers. Much like the original *Connections*, this game prompts players to discover the “commonalities between words.” Additionally, in a manner reminiscent of *Wordle*, the puzzle resets every day at midnight, with each successive challenge becoming increasingly complex. We’ve included some tips and techniques to assist you in taking on today’s puzzle.
If you’re seeking the answer to today’s puzzle, simply scroll to the article’s conclusion. However, if you wish to tackle it independently, continue reading for advice and hints to assist you.
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### What Is *Connections: Sports Edition*?
The *New York Times* has teamed up with *The Athletic*, its sports-oriented initiative, to introduce this daily word game. *Connections: Sports Edition* can be accessed via web browsers and mobile devices. The aim is straightforward: categorize four words that share a common theme.
Each puzzle is made up of 16 words, split into four groups. These groups may include sports vernacular as well as broader categories like book titles, software, or country names. Although some words might appear to fit together, there’s only one valid grouping for each set.
When players accurately identify a grouping of four, those words are eliminated from the board. On the other hand, incorrect selections are recorded as mistakes, with players permitted up to four errors before the game concludes. To facilitate decision-making, players can shuffle the board to better recognize connections. Each group is color-coded by difficulty: yellow (easiest), followed by green, blue, and purple. Similar to *Wordle*, you can share your results on social media with friends.
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### Tips for Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Puzzle
Looking for a clue for today’s categories without wanting the full answers? Here’s a little hint to steer you in the right direction:
– **Yellow:** Stages of postseason football.
– **Green:** Advancing the ball using your foot in football, excluding punting.
– **Blue:** Players who frequently caught the ball during a Super Bowl.
– **Purple:** Safeguarding the quarterback.
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### Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Categories
Still having trouble? Here are today’s specific categories:
– **Yellow:** NFL playoff stages
– **Green:** Various types of kicks
– **Blue:** Wide receivers awarded Super Bowl MVP
– **Purple:** Terms that accompany “block”
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### The Solution to Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* Puzzle
Are you ready for the answers? Here’s your final opportunity to backtrack and resolve it by yourself before we disclose the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
Today’s *Connections: Sports Edition* #132 answers are:
1. **NFL playoff stages:**
– CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, DIVISIONAL, WILD CARD, SUPER BOWL
2. **Types of kicks:**
– DROP, ONSIDE, POOCH, SQUIB
3. **WRs awarded Super Bowl MVP:**
– BRANCH, EDELMAN, KUPP, WARD
4. **____ block:**
– CHOP, PANCAKE, PASS, RUN
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### Don’t Worry if You Missed It!
If you didn’t solve today’s puzzle, don’t be concerned. A fresh *Connections* puzzle will be available tomorrow, and we’ll return with additional hints and solutions to assist you.
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### Looking for More Games?
If you enjoy puzzles, make sure to visit Mashable’s [games hub](https://games.mashable.com/) for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more. Also, if you’re engaged in *NYT Strands*, [we’ve got hints and solutions for today’s puzzle](https://mashable.com/article/strands-nyt-hint-february-2).
Missed yesterday’s *Connections*? [Find the answers here](https://mashable.com/article/nyt-connections-hint-answer-today-february-2-2025). Enjoy puzzling!