The NFL season starts Wednesday night, so today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle is all about football. The purple group requires you to unscramble some words, which is a real challenge. If you’re struggling with the puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group hint: Party in the parking lot.

Green group hint: Stars of the big game.

Blue group hint: The 12s hang out here.

Purple group hint: Football teams, mixed up.

Read more: We Need to Talk About Wednesday’s Doggone Connections Puzzle

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Tailgating needs.

Green group: Super Bowl MVPs.

Blue group: Names of Seahawks stadiums.

Purple group: Anagrams of NFL teams.

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is tailgating needs.

The four answers are chairs, cooler, grill and tent.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is Super Bowl MVPs.

The four answers are Brady, Branch, Edelman and Walker.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is names of Seahawks stadiums.

The four answers are CenturyLink, Kingdome, Lumen and Qwest.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is anagrams of NFL teams.

The four answers are bangles (Bengals), sabre (Bears), tar pits (Patriots) and treeless (Steelers).

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

See full bio