In Connections: Sports Edition, sort sixteen words into four groups of four. Today’s groups use scoring references, geographic ties, championship histories, and wordplay.
Connections: Sports Edition #777 Puzzle Overview: November 9, 2026
BILLS and HAWKS each have more than one meaning. Consider alternate meanings before committing to four entries.
The sixteen words on today’s board are: FALCONS, HAWKS, BISCUIT, PAYDIRT, RAGIN’ CAJUNS, 6, TEXANS, SON, VIKINGS, GULLS, TD, SAINTS, TUDDY, PELICANS, BILLS, GREEN WAVE.
Connections: Sports Edition Hints: November 9, 2026
Each of the four color groups below opens in four steps: hints, one word, the category name, then all four words. Stop at the step that gives enough help.
Yellow group
Step 1 · two hints
- These entries point to one scoring result.
- Look for different ways to represent or name one football scoring play.
Step 2 · one word
6
Step 3 · category
TOUCHDOWN
Step 4 · all four words
6, TD, PAYDIRT, TUDDY
Green group
Step 1 · two hints
- These names share geographic roots.
- Look for sports organizations based in the same state.
Step 2 · one word
PELICANS
Step 3 · category
LOUISIANA TEAMS
Step 4 · all four words
PELICANS, SAINTS, RAGIN’ CAJUNS, GREEN WAVE
Blue group
Step 1 · two hints
- Their title histories share one missing achievement.
- These football franchises have yet to win the same championship.
Step 2 · one word
VIKINGS
Step 3 · category
NEVER WON A SUPER BOWL
Step 4 · all four words
VIKINGS, FALCONS, TEXANS, BILLS
Purple group
Step 1 · two hints
- The link depends on what comes before each entry.
- Attach the same short prefix to the front of every entry.
Step 2 · one word
SON
Step 3 · category
SEA_____
Step 4 · all four words
HAWKS, SON, BISCUIT, GULLS
Connections: Sports Edition Answers: November 9, 2026
Step 4 of each group above holds its answer. The full solved grid and notes on today’s tricky words are folded below.
Full solved grid
Tricky words (spoilers)
HAWKS can mean birds or sells goods. Its bird meaning may suggest a place beside FALCONS in NEVER WON A SUPER BOWL, but it belongs in SEA_____.
The purple answer supplies the prefix for every entry: SEA + HAWKS, SEA + SON, SEA + BISCUIT, and SEA + GULLS. Each combination forms a complete word.
Yesterday’s groups for 8 November 2026
- NBA TEAMS, ON SCOREBOARDS: TOR, MEM, MIN, POR
- SOCCER KICKS: GOAL, FREE, PENALTY, CORNER
- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: TUTEN, STRANGE, HUNTER, LAWRENCE
- OLYMPIC SPORTS, MINUS THE LAST LETTER: LUG, CURLIN, GOL, ARCHER
More Connections Sports Edition: Yesterday’s puzzle · Play Connections Sports Edition on The Athletic
Also today: Wordle · Connections · Strands · Pips · Phrazle · Quordle · Keyword · Colordle · Unwordle · Hurdle · NYT Crossword · NYT Mini · NYT Midi · Jumble · Spelling Bee · Letter Boxed · Parseword · Poeltl
Earlier days: 8 Nov · 6 Nov · 5 Nov · 4 Nov · 3 Nov
Questions about Connections Sports Edition
How many tries does a player get in Connections Sports Edition?
The game ends after four mistakes.
Where can a person play Connections Sports Edition?
Play Connections: Sports Edition in a web browser on The Athletic’s section of The New York Times website.
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