We can now see a DOUBLE bird gauntlet in one season!!! (Disclaimer, I only consider regular-season matchups as part of the bird gauntlet, I understand that it can already happen twice if you include playoffs)

TL;DR: Because of the added game to the schedule, we could potentially see two bird gauntlets in one season, we were close this year but will have to wait until 2027 before we could see it again.

Let me explain. The bird gauntlet is the schedule phenomenon of playing all five bird teams (Eagles, Ravens, Falcons, Seahawks, Cardinals) in the same season. Due to the NFL scheduling format, the bird gauntlet is a relatively elusive feat, as the stars need to align pretty nicely for it to occur (a nice thread explaining the scheduling constraints can be found here). Since the Ravens joined the NFL in 1998, only three teams have played all five teams in the regular season, with the Lions planning on becoming the fourth this season, and no team has ever beaten all five in the same regular season.

This season, for the first time, the NFL has added a week 18, so teams will now play 17 games in the regular season rather than the traditional 16. To determine the new matchups, you look at the cross-conference divisional matchups from two seasons ago, and the teams are matched up based on the previous season's standings. For example, the AFC East played the NFC East two seasons ago, so this season the 17th game for these teams will be matchups between these two divisions by last season's standings. This means that Washington plays the Bills, the Giants play the Dolphins, the Patriots play the Cowboys, and the Eagles play the Jets.

Because of this added game to the schedule, we can now potentially see TWO bird gauntlet attempts in the same season! It is extremely unlikely and would need a lot to go right, but it is certainly possible and could have even potentially happened this season. To get the double bird gauntlet, the Ravens must have a matchup with at least one NFC West team, and their other NFC opponent(s) must also play the NFC West. This specific outcome occurs every 6 years, starting this season, as the Ravens play the entire NFC North and one team from the NFC West. In fact, we were DANGEROUSLY close to having it this year, in its first year of possibility. If the Ravens had come in last in their division last season, they would have played the 49ers this season rather than the Rams for their 17th game. The 49ers will already play Cardinals and Seahawks (within their division) and will also play the Eagles and Falcons since they all were last-place NFC teams last season. Since we sadly will not get the double gauntlet this season, I'll go over what needs to happen to achieve it in 2027, the next chance we will have.

To achieve it in 2027, we simply need the Ravens, Eagles, Falcons, and either the 49ers or Rams to all end in the same position in their respective divisional standings in the year before. So let's say, hypothetically, the Rams finish the 2026 season atop the NFC West, along with the three bird teams I just mentioned. in 2027 The Rams will play the Cardinals and Seahawks from their division. The NFC West is matched up with the NFC North and AFC North as their two divisions they play every team from, so they will play the Ravens. Because of their hypothetical position leading the division, they would play the Falcons and Eagles, thus completing their gauntlet. Shifting over to the NFC North, let's say the Lions win the division in 2026 (You're welcome, Lions fans). They will play the Cardinals and Seahawks, as they play all four NFC West teams. Because they also won the division (again, please just play along with me) they will play the Eagles and Falcons. And because the NFC North is matched up with the AFC North in 2025, the Lions would play the 2026 AFC North winner for their 17th game, which so happens to be the Ravens!

I'm not a religious person, but I may have to start praying now for this to happen in 6 years. Who's with me!