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Today's Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. The blue group is a bit funny, once you recognize the connection. If you're struggling with today's puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn't appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic's own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Leading the pack.
Green group hint: Football division.
Blue group hint: Like Bridges or Goldblum.
Purple group hint: Blast off.
Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: In No. 1 position.
Green group: AFC East teams.
Blue group: Jeffs.
Purple group: Rockets.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today's Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 17, 2026.
NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's Connections
The theme is in No. 1 position. The four answers are first, front, lead and pole.
The green words in today's Connections
The theme is AFC East teams. The four answers are Buffalo, Miami, New England and New York.
The blue words in today's Connections
The theme is Jeffs. The four answers are Bagwell, Kent, Saturday and Van Gundy.
The purple words in today's Connections
The theme is Rockets. The four answers are Clemens, Houston, Richard and Toledo.
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