NFL Penalty Tracker
Menu

Automatic First Downs

This page shows all penalties that resulted in an automatic first down based on the type of penalty. There are many additional penalties that based on the penalty yardage and distance remaining resulted in a first down.

"3rd & Long" is 3rd down and 6 or more yards. "Desperation" is 3rd and 10 or more or 4th and 6 or more. "Yardage Mitigated" is the total yardage the team had left to get a first down when the flag was thrown granting a gratis first down. Remember: There are more first down plays than 2nd down plays, more 2nd down plays than 3rd, and so on.

Beneficiary means the team benefitted from the penalty. Declined and Offsetting penalties are not shown in this table. Penalties occurring on special teams are not included.

The table below contains the following penalties: Defensive Pass Interference (247), Defensive Holding (175), Roughing the Passer (89), Face Mask (15 Yards) (54), Personal Foul (45), Illegal Use of Hands (40), Illegal Contact (38), Horse Collar Tackle (26), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (25), Taunting (16), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.
TeamTotal1st Down2nd Down3rd Down4th Down3rd & LongDesperationYardage MitigatedPenalty Yards
Denver3612139242313352
Seattle36127170106329477
Chicago18468042132203
Cleveland23958052179313
Minnesota15339053151259
Oakland24879073206258
Pittsburgh17656021122180
Arizona271556111220294
N.Y. Giants17845020119220
Houston299812081223485
N.Y. Jets21675330171245
Atlanta23679142194241
Baltimore22985040181212
Buffalo3112127062298330
Carolina276811285214236
Dallas271286153234277
Philadelphia22958033187275
Detroit251147152194283
Tampa Bay25799073235333
San Francisco22777121153245
Cincinnati2410103021205348
St. Louis3515118152313337
Miami19658052165241
New England17638051131205
New Orleans18657030162214
Tennessee241095031184279
Jacksonville221173120202270
San Diego21777060168236
Kansas City26899061222239
Indianapolis2710512072186270
Green Bay1556311094182
Washington211074041177203
Totals756275222240151445362648742