NFL Penalty Tracker
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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 (3715), Defensive Holding (2749), Roughing the Passer (1527), Illegal Contact (892), Illegal Use of Hands (795), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (317), Personal Foul (237), Horse Collar Tackle (233), Taunting (120), Face Mask (109), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (32), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (4), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.
TeamGamesTotal1st Down2nd Down3rd Down4th Down3rd & LongDesperationYardage MitigatedPenalty Yards
Atlanta2461.6670.5490.5200.5330.0530.3210.16713.78517.244
Cleveland2391.4180.4350.4690.4520.0590.2850.12111.78215.000
Minnesota2471.5380.5260.4290.5300.0360.3200.13812.18217.514
Tampa Bay2441.5290.6070.4470.4340.0330.2700.15213.25018.324
Green Bay2581.6280.5230.4810.5780.0310.3140.13613.35719.442
Jacksonville2421.5120.5250.4710.4670.0450.2730.12812.70716.669
Houston2471.3810.4980.4170.4330.0200.2670.10911.52215.130
Seattle2571.3230.4940.3850.3970.0390.2570.12811.30015.708
Denver2471.6190.5180.4860.5630.0400.3360.14213.46218.324
Baltimore2551.3880.4310.4670.4510.0310.2820.14111.75717.898
LA Chargers2431.5880.5970.4650.4610.0580.2960.12313.66716.333
N.Y. Giants2451.4490.5550.4200.4290.0370.2240.11411.88614.837
Cincinnati2491.5060.5500.4540.4580.0360.2690.16112.76716.390
Detroit2401.5130.5750.4580.4500.0250.3000.15012.95016.417
New England2621.6600.5460.5610.5110.0310.3050.13713.86618.153
Arizona2441.6600.5900.5250.5040.0330.3360.14314.25818.545
Kansas City2571.4900.5560.4440.4360.0470.2680.14812.95314.109
Dallas2481.4640.4840.5000.4480.0240.3020.11312.36715.077
San Francisco2541.3270.4690.3500.4720.0350.2910.15011.07914.098
Pittsburgh2501.5200.5680.4880.4240.0240.2480.11212.54418.772
Buffalo2461.2970.4430.4070.4150.0240.2680.14211.24815.602
Washington2411.3730.4560.4190.4560.0330.2660.12011.49414.124
Las Vegas2401.4380.5250.4000.4460.0580.3130.15012.32517.871
N.Y. Jets2431.3580.4400.4280.4490.0290.2590.11511.46515.395
New Orleans2521.2540.3890.4170.4330.0160.2220.08310.34513.060
Philadelphia2501.4520.5480.4480.4200.0200.2520.11212.62017.456
Chicago2421.4090.4790.4090.4830.0290.2810.16512.04115.624
Indianapolis2501.6160.6400.4280.5200.0280.3440.15613.86419.596
LA Rams2471.2270.4250.3810.3930.0280.2310.12610.15013.757
Miami2391.3970.5730.3680.4270.0250.2300.14611.89116.477
Tennessee2441.4300.4800.3770.5200.0410.3400.14811.60214.660
Carolina2441.3650.4510.4060.4630.0450.2580.10711.54114.266