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Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know your canines.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Event details

• Green: Look up

• Blue: Texas teammates

• Purple: Short for

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Information on a ticket

• Green: Things in the sky at sporting events

• Blue: Members of the San Antonio Spurs

• Purple: Where the initialism "ESPN" came from

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #447 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Information on a ticket - DATE, ROW, SEAT NUMBER, SECTION

• Things in the sky at sporting events - BLIMP, FIREWORKS, FLYOVER, SKYCAM

• Members of the San Antonio Spurs - BARNES, CASTLE, FOX, WEMBANYAMA

• Where the initialism "ESPN" came from - ENTERTAINMENT, NETWORK, PROGRAMMING, SPORTS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025:

AcrossStringed instrument that becomes an exclamation if you switch its second and third letters

• The answer is Viola.

Place for unread emails

• The answer is Inbox.

Back of a 45 record

• The answer is B side.

Olympic fencing event

• The answer is Epee.

Emergency call in Morse code

• The answer is SOS.

DownGood ___ only

• The answer is Vibes

Bit of creative motivation, for short

• The answer is Inspo.

Theater awards since 1956

• The answer is Obies.

Ore deposit

• The answer is Lode.

Tool for a firefighter or lumberjack

• The answer is Axe.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Live stream Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Sunday Football offers up a game that could prove tricky for the all-of-a-sudden struggling Baltimore Ravens. On a two-game losing streak that puts them 6-7, Baltimore now face the Cincinnati Bengals. It's the second time in three weeks that these teams have faced off, and the Bengals hammered the Ravens 32-14 last time out.

With the Pittsburgh Steelers sat atop AFC North, a loss to the Bengals could cost the Ravens a playoff spot — the first time they'd miss the postseason in four years. That means there are bigger, divisional implications beyond the scoreline of this game. And with Cincinnati pretty much out of the postseason at 4-9, they've got very little to lose.

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If you want to watch Ravens vs. Bengals in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Ravens vs. Bengals?

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 14. This fixture will be played at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

How to watch Ravens vs. Bengals for free

Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but you can access this free streaming platform from anywhere by using a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, allowing you to unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL

4. Register with TVNZ+

5. Watch the NFL for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming do require a subscription, but the leading VPN services also offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these deals to get access to live streams of the NFL without committing any cash in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it will give you time to watch Ravens vs. Bengals and other NFL fixtures before you reclaim any upfront investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 — a saving of 49% — which includes a bonus three months usage at no extra cost. This plan also includes a year of unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (also with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Green Bay are in good form right now. At 9-3-1, they're sitting at the top of NFC North and have a four-game winning streak. Oddsmakers have picked them as the favorite for this Sunday Football game on the road, but the competition couldn't be tougher.

The Broncos have had an even better run — they're currently 11-2 — with a 10-game streak and unbeaten home record. The Broncos are also top of AFC West and need to win their next three games to clinch the division title. They've played by the seat of their pants this season though and have been forced to make some big comebacks — in fact, they're the comeback kings of 2025 — so we can only make the following prediction for Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos: major drama.

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If you want to watch Packers vs. Broncos in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Packers vs. Broncos?

Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos takes place at 4.25 p.m. ET on Dec. 14. This fixture will be played at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.

How to watch Packers vs. Broncos for free

Packers vs. Broncos in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia only, but anyone around the globe can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can help by hiding your real IP address (digital location) and connecting you to a secure server in Australia, allowing you to unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL

4. Register with 7Plus

5. Watch the NFL for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming do require a subscription, but the leading VPN services also offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these deals to get access to live streams of the NFL without committing any cash in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it will give you time to watch Packers vs. Broncos and other NFL fixtures before you reclaim any upfront investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 — a saving of 49% — which includes a bonus three months usage at no extra cost. This plan also includes a year of unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (also with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs is the NFL game to watch in Week 15. It's do or die for the Chiefs, whose season has been an unexpected disappointment. If they don't win this decisive game they could find themselves eliminated from the postseason — a stunning turnaround for a team which has seen 10 consecutive playoffs, nine consecutive division titles, and three consecutive Super Bowl games.

At a decidedly mid 6-7, they're coming off a loss to the Houston Texans, with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes having a noticeably poor game.

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And the Chiefs are facing seriously tough competition in the Chargers, whose robust defense could cause further problems for the low-scoring Chiefs. The Chargers are also coming off a dramatic win against the Super Bowl winners, the Eagles, which is sure to give them some momentum in this AFC West showdown.

If you want to watch Chargers vs. Chiefs in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Chargers vs. Chiefs?

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 14. This fixture will be played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

How to watch Chargers vs. Chiefs for free

Chargers vs. Chiefs in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia only, but anyone around the globe can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can help by hiding your real IP address (digital location) and connecting you to a secure server in Australia, allowing you to unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL

4. Register with 7Plus

5. Watch the NFL for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming do require a subscription, but the leading VPN services also offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these deals to get access to live streams of the NFL without committing any cash in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it will give you time to watch Chargers vs. Chiefs and other NFL fixtures before you reclaim any upfront investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 — a saving of 49% — which includes a bonus three months usage at no extra cost. This plan also includes a year of unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (also with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Giving a Kindle this holiday season? If so, we're giving you the best gifter of the year. An e-reader is for both the bookworm and the techie, looking for a more portable library. The Kindle itself is a spectacular gift, but if you're looking to build out your present a little more, you have some options.

Kindles are one of our favorite devices here at Mashable, so we rounded up a list of gifts perfect for the Kindle user. These are gifts we'd actually want to receive with our Kindle, not just something that gets shoved in a back corner.

Amazon Gift Card

To be fair, gift cards are usually a cop out gift, but in the case of a Kindle, we actually recommend it. To purchase books for your Kindle, you'll do that on Amazon or the Kindle app, and either way, it's connected to your Amazon account. So an Amazon gift card means money to fill your Kindle library.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Gift Card   Get Deal Kindle Unlimited

Ever dreamed of a streaming service but for books? That's basically Kindle Unlimited. For $11.99 a month, you get access to millions of titles and are able to borrow up to 20 books at once. Current titles in the Kindle Unlimited collection include bestselling and acclaimed titles like The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. You can gift Kindle Unlimited to your recipient for six, 12, or 24 months, starting at just $65.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Unlimited $65.95
Gift six, 12, or 24 months of Kindle Unlimited Shop Now USB charging block

Included in the box of your Amazon Kindle will be a USB-C to USB-A cord, but there's no charging block included. Adding on an Anker charging block helps complete the package, plus this one includes both a USB-C and USB-A port so your recipient can charge multiple devices at once.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker USB-A and USB-C Charger Block $18.99 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $6   Shop Now Page-turning remote

The newest trend in Kindle accessories is all about the remote page turner. When paired with a stand, you can keep your hands tucked under the blankets and away from the cold. Kobo released a remote for their e-readers, but Kindle is behind the curve, so in the meantime, you'll have to go for a third-party brand. Not to worry, we've tried the Datafy remote page turner, and it's a superb choice for bookworms looking to get cozy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Datafy Datafy Remote Page Turner for Kindle $15.19 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $4.80   Shop Now Tablet stand

To go with your page-turning remote, you'll need a stand to go truly hands-free. Popular options include a floor stand or gooseneck stand, but while lurking on the Kindle subreddit, I found that some people prefer a bean bag tablet stand where you can store even more goodies, like your remote page turner.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ergonov Ergonov Bean Bag Tablet Stand $53.98 at Amazon
  Shop Now A book cover that makes it feel like a real book

While most book lovers have come around to the e-reader, it's still hard to let go of the feeling of holding a hardcover book. To emulate that feel, you can gift them a case that feels like a book. KleverCase's e-reader cases are ornamental and vintage-inspired. Some pay homage to classics like Alice in Wonderland or homage to Wicked with a Grimoire-inspired cover.

Opens in a new window Credit: KleverCase KleverCase E-Reader Cover $24.95 at Amazon
$27.95 Save $3   Get Deal

TL;DR: Use AI more efficiently with this lifetime subscription to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan, on sale now for just $74.97 (reg. $540) for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $74.97
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You can score a lifetime subscription to 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan for just $74.97 (reg. $540), but only for a limited time.

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If you want AI to really streamline your workflow, don’t miss adding 1min.AI to your routine. This powerful platform combines multiple AI models, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, Grok, and more, in one convenient spot.

Curious how it works? With 1min.AI, you enter your inquiry and receive help with everything from image generation to coding to copywriting. It helps anyone who often works with AI, making it easier to chat with numerous assistants and receive help with your daily tasks — just make sure to always review the output, as light editing may still be needed with any AI platform.

With 1min.AI’s Advanced Business plan, you’ll receive an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, and unlimited brand voice options. It also includes 4,000,000 credits per month, which can be used to write 1,112,500 words, research up to 5,933 SEO keywords, generate up to 1,186 images, and create up to 37 videos, all per month.

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