The NYT Mini is a quick and dirty version of the newspaper's larger and long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.

The answer to one down in the Nov. 28 New York Times Mini Crossword is “YARDS.” The gridiron is the design of American football fields, which resembles a grid with yard lines. The field is 100 yards long and players try to gain points by advancing the ball during play, which fits perfectly with the “gains” part of the clue.

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