Automatic First Downs - 2009 to Present

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 (4312), Defensive Holding (3103), Roughing the Passer (1718), Illegal Contact (1046), Illegal Use of Hands (893), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (342), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (237), Taunting (134), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (39), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (5), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Games	Total	1st Down	2nd Down	3rd Down	4th Down	3rd & Long	Desperation	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	274	1.478	0.526	0.423	0.485	0.033	0.292	0.146	12.489	16.299
Minnesota	281	1.327	0.491	0.367	0.431	0.039	0.274	0.142	11.555	15.327
Cleveland	274	1.445	0.489	0.474	0.438	0.036	0.296	0.168	12.234	17.201
Dallas	282	1.518	0.514	0.489	0.450	0.046	0.277	0.142	12.592	15.564
Carolina	279	1.265	0.444	0.384	0.409	0.025	0.251	0.111	10.616	14.355
Cincinnati	283	1.343	0.442	0.431	0.435	0.025	0.261	0.145	11.495	14.703
Arizona	277	1.495	0.560	0.513	0.397	0.022	0.242	0.123	12.888	15.957
Tennessee	278	1.453	0.536	0.435	0.432	0.047	0.284	0.140	12.565	16.881
San Francisco	292	1.428	0.449	0.449	0.503	0.027	0.312	0.168	12.267	15.695
LA Chargers	278	1.403	0.450	0.381	0.496	0.061	0.313	0.137	11.612	14.716
Baltimore	292	1.640	0.579	0.510	0.466	0.072	0.267	0.134	13.908	18.305
Pittsburgh	286	1.332	0.437	0.483	0.357	0.045	0.203	0.108	11.220	15.332
Washington	277	1.372	0.498	0.412	0.412	0.043	0.224	0.108	11.267	15.866
Atlanta	280	1.229	0.425	0.361	0.407	0.021	0.239	0.100	10.407	13.693
N.Y. Giants	279	1.308	0.441	0.401	0.419	0.043	0.290	0.136	11.222	15.416
Las Vegas	273	1.729	0.634	0.480	0.568	0.044	0.388	0.179	14.978	19.168
Indianapolis	284	1.303	0.447	0.408	0.412	0.025	0.232	0.099	10.440	13.996
Chicago	275	1.251	0.360	0.411	0.444	0.029	0.229	0.080	9.942	15.455
Denver	282	1.642	0.599	0.500	0.511	0.025	0.337	0.135	14.071	17.904
LA Rams	284	1.377	0.489	0.408	0.430	0.039	0.278	0.144	11.831	15.035
Green Bay	295	1.271	0.471	0.346	0.414	0.024	0.220	0.092	10.047	13.380
Philadelphia	289	1.457	0.484	0.436	0.505	0.021	0.311	0.170	12.304	15.747
Houston	285	1.568	0.512	0.540	0.477	0.035	0.295	0.144	13.221	18.242
Kansas City	298	1.490	0.550	0.386	0.503	0.037	0.295	0.164	12.466	15.943
Seattle	290	1.528	0.503	0.452	0.541	0.024	0.338	0.148	12.734	17.014
Detroit	278	1.752	0.612	0.486	0.597	0.043	0.342	0.155	14.647	18.414
New England	297	1.350	0.485	0.414	0.434	0.010	0.266	0.101	11.226	15.458
Tampa Bay	281	1.423	0.584	0.391	0.391	0.050	0.224	0.117	12.295	14.883
New Orleans	286	1.752	0.584	0.559	0.535	0.066	0.315	0.119	14.486	19.524
Buffalo	284	1.511	0.563	0.465	0.447	0.032	0.306	0.137	12.789	15.588
N.Y. Jets	277	1.700	0.585	0.451	0.588	0.058	0.379	0.206	14.433	19.094
Jacksonville	276	1.431	0.576	0.384	0.431	0.036	0.254	0.109	11.986	16.764