The New York Times Connections: Sports Edition for September 6, 2026, marks puzzle number 713. This specific grid challenges players to identify defensive terminology, a specific NFL roster, and a cross-league collection of famous surnames.
Hints for Today’s Connections
If you are looking for a nudge in the right direction without seeing the final answers, these hints categorize the difficulty of each group.
- Yellow: Terms used to describe protecting a player or a section of the field.
- Green: A group of legendary and current athletes who all share the same last name.
- Blue: Key players currently associated with a specific AFC South NFL franchise.
- Purple: Words that look like normal vocabulary but become NFL quarterback names if you change just the first letter.
Stronger Group Hints
- Yellow: Think about what a defender does in football or basketball to stay close to an opponent.
- Green: This group includes stars from the NFL and the WNBA, such as Daniel, Mac, and Jonquel.
- Blue: These athletes are the core of the Houston Texans roster, including their standout quarterback and top wide receiver.
- Purple: If you change the ‘C’ in CART to a ‘D,’ you get a rising star. If you change the ‘D’ in DODGERS to an ‘R,’ you get a future Hall of Famer.
Spoiler Warning: The final solutions for today’s puzzle are listed below.
NYT Connections: Sports Edition Answers for September 6, #713
Yellow Group: Defend
BLANKET, COVER, GUARD, SHIELD
Explanation: These are all verbs or descriptors for defensive positioning in various sports.
Green Group: Joneses
DANIEL, DEACON, JONQUEL, MAC
Explanation: This group refers to athletes sharing the surname Jones, spanning NFL history (Deacon, Daniel, Mac) and WNBA excellence (Jonquel Jones).
Blue Group: Houston Texans
DELL, MIXON, STINGLEY, STROUD
Explanation: This category identifies key members of the Houston Texans, including wide receiver Tank Dell, running back Joe Mixon, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., and quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Purple Group: NFL QBs With the First Letter Changed
CART, COVE, DODGERS, THOUGH
Explanation: By changing the first letter of these words, you reveal the names of Jaxson Dart (Cart), Jordan Love (Cove), Aaron Rodgers (Dodgers), and Tyler Shough (Though).
According to Parade, the Purple category’s reliance on emerging names like Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough adds a layer of difficulty for those not following college prospects or recent NFL transitions.
