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NYT Connections Sports Edition · #676

NYT Connections Sports Edition Hints & Answers (#676) — July 31, 2026

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Earlier Jul 30 This puzzle Jul 31 Later Aug 1

“Start with the clear football drive endings and reaching actions before looking for athlete surnames or name sounds.Today's puzzle has JACKIE and MORE, both carrying history. JACKIE appeared in Connections #648 (Jul 3, 2026) as part of famous Dodgers in the Hall of Fame. MORE appeared in Connections #655 (Jul 10, 2026) as part of homophones of NFL head coaches.”

NYT Sports Connections hints for July 31, 2026

Three levels of help — a definition for every word, colour-coded group nudges, and a heads-up on the traps. Skip to all answers →

1

Word clues

A spoiler-free definition for every word in the grid. Tap the eye on any card to reveal which colour-group it belongs to.

1 BROOKSThe baseball player whose glove defined a position.
2 DIVELeaping through the air toward the ball.
3 EXTENDStretching arms or body as far as possible.
4 FIELD GOALThree points that finish a possession without a touchdown.
5 JACKIEThe barrier-breaking baseball player who also appeared in an earlier puzzle.
6 JUDYSounds like a lesser-known NFL wide receiver name.
7 LAMSounds like Lamb, the receiver for the Cowboys.
8 LAY OUTGoing horizontal to make the catch.
9 LUNGEA sudden forward step to grab something just out of reach.
10 MITCHELLThe basketball player known for his scoring bursts.
11 MORESounds like Moore, the receiver for the Eagles.
12 NEIGHBORSSounds like Nabers, the receiver for the Giants.
13 PUNTGiving the ball back on fourth down.
14 TOUCHDOWNThe most direct way to score and end a drive.
15 TRUCKThe football running back nicknamed for his power.
16 TURNOVERLooks like a general sports term but here it stops the drive via fumble or interception.
2

Group hints

Four colour-coded groups, easiest → hardest. Every button reveals the hint, the category name, or a single word — tap only what you need.

See Hint The usual ways an offensive possession concludes.
See Group HOW A FOOTBALL DRIVE ENDS
See WordTOUCHDOWN
See WordFIELD GOAL
See WordPUNT
See WordTURNOVER
See Hint Body moves that help snag a pass or catch.
See Group REACH (FOR A BALL)
See WordLUNGE
See WordDIVE
See WordLAY OUT
See WordEXTEND
See Hint Famous athletes who share one common last name.
See Group ROBINSONS
See WordMITCHELL
See WordTRUCK
See WordBROOKS
See WordJACKIE
See Hint Names that sound exactly like current or recent NFL receivers.
See Group HOMOPHONES OF NFL WRS
See WordNEIGHBORS
See WordLAM
See WordMORE
See WordJUDY
3

Words the puzzle wants you to mis-group

Read these before you guess — they're the words most likely to break a streak. Tap for the trap.

1 NEIGHBORS Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of people living next door, but here the puzzle is using it as a sound-alike for a player name, not the common noun.
2 LAM Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of fleeing or escaping, but here the puzzle is using it as a sound-alike for a player name, not the verb.
3 MORE Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of an additional amount, but here the puzzle is using it as a sound-alike for a player name, not the quantity.
4 JUDY Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a woman's name, but here the puzzle is using it as a sound-alike for a player name, not the given name.

NYT Sports Connections answers for July 31, 2026

All four groups revealed, easiest first. Each card holds the theme, the four words, and why the group works.

Y HOW A FOOTBALL DRIVE ENDS · Yellow · easiest
  • TOUCHDOWN
  • FIELD GOAL
  • PUNT
  • TURNOVER

TOUCHDOWN, FIELD GOAL, PUNT and TURNOVER are all ways a football drive ends. TURNOVER stands out because it also occurs in basketball and other sports, which is the trap.

G REACH (FOR A BALL) · Green · easy
  • LUNGE
  • DIVE
  • LAY OUT
  • EXTEND

LUNGE, DIVE, LAY OUT and EXTEND are all actions to reach for a ball. LAY OUT is the most dramatic because it often means leaving your feet completely.

B ROBINSONS · Blue · medium
  • MITCHELL
  • TRUCK
  • BROOKS
  • JACKIE

MITCHELL, TRUCK, BROOKS and JACKIE are all last names of athletes surnamed Robinson. JACKIE is the most recognizable but the group is not limited to baseball legends.

P HOMOPHONES OF NFL WRS · Purple · hardest
  • NEIGHBORS
  • LAM
  • MORE
  • JUDY

NEIGHBORS, LAM, MORE and JUDY are homophones of NFL wide receiver names. JUDY is the least obvious because the real player spelling is far less common.

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