Crossword puzzle clue "at one's limit and a hint to this puzzle's starred answers"

At one's limit, and a hint to this puzzle's starred answers

Postseason gridiron game, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in starred answers

Boundaries, and a hint to the puzzle's starred answers

Embarking on something exciting, and a hint regarding what this puzzle's starred answers' endings have in common

Attendance check, and a hint to the puzzle theme in the first words of the starred answers

Hint for understanding this puzzle's starred answers

Simon & Garfunkel album, and a hint to what can precede and follow the halves of the starred answers

Classic letter puzzle -- or, when parsed differently, a hint to three Down answers in this puzzle