| 100% | MANNING | 7 | Surname of football players Archie, Eli, and Peyton |
| 56% | MANNING | 7 | Surname of American footballers, Eli and Peyton |
| 48% | ELI | 3 | Son of Archie and brother of Peyton, in football's Manning family |
| 44% | CURRY | 5 | Surname of basketball players Dell, Seth, and Steph |
| 43% | GRIFFEY | 7 | Surname of baseball players Ken Sr. and Ken Jr. |
| 42% | ARCHIEMANNING | 13 | Former American football quarterback who is the father of Peyton and Eli, both of whom have won two Super Bowls: 2 wds. |
| 42% | SONS | 4 | Peyton and Eli Manning, to Archie Manning |
| 42% | ARCHIEMANNING | 13 | Father of Peyton and Eli |
| 41% | ARCHIEMANNING | 13 | Father of gridders Peyton and Eli |
| 41% | ARCHIEMANNING | 13 | College Football Hall of Famer whose sons Peyton and Eli both won the NFL Man of the Year award named for 18-Across (2 wds.) |
| 40% | MANNING | 7 | Last name of NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton |
| 40% | RODRIGUEZ | 9 | Surname of the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007 |
| 39% | ELI | 3 | Brother of Peyton and son of Archie, in the NFL |
| 38% | OLEMISS | 7 | Where Archie Manning and Eli Manning played college football |
| 37% | ALAN | 4 | ___ Page, former defensive football player who played defensive tackle and is one of the greatest defensive linemen |
| 37% | DOGPILE | 7 | Heap of football players |
| 37% | QBS | 3 | Eli and Peyton Manning, for two: Abbr. |
| 36% | CLEATS | 6 | Pointy parts of football players' shoes |
| 35% | PAULALLEN | 9 | First name, surname of football-predicting octopus |
| 35% | MARX | 4 | Surname of Groucho and Chico |
| 35% | OBAMA | 5 | Surname of Bo and Sunny |
| 35% | OLSEN | 5 | Surname of Ashley and Mary-Kate |
| 35% | ALI | 3 | Surname of boxers Muhammad and Laila |
| 35% | GALLO | 5 | Surname of vintners Ernest and Julio |
| 35% | LADD | 4 | Surname of actresses Diane and Cheryl |
| 35% | SHEEN | 5 | Surname of actors Martin and Charlie |
| 34% | JAMES | 5 | LeBron ___, LA Lakers basketball player and 2004 NBA "Rookie of the Year" who also played football in school |
| 34% | ONEAL | 5 | Shaquille ___, former basketball player and 1993 NBA "Rookie of the Year" who played football extensively throughout his childhood |
| 34% | ALLEN | 5 | ___ Iverson, former basketball player and 1997 NBA "Rookie of the Year" who also played football in high school |
| 34% | PETTY | 5 | Surname of auto racers Lee and Richard |