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 (4352), Defensive Holding (3130), Roughing the Passer (1730), Illegal Contact (1059), Illegal Use of Hands (902), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Face Mask (247), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (137), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (41), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (5), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	46267	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	47553	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	46966	0.008	0.072	0.101
Dallas	48119	0.009	0.074	0.092
Carolina	46817	0.008	0.065	0.087
Cincinnati	48323	0.008	0.068	0.087
Arizona	47664	0.009	0.075	0.093
Tennessee	46877	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	48950	0.009	0.073	0.094
LA Chargers	46920	0.008	0.069	0.088
Baltimore	50169	0.010	0.082	0.107
Pittsburgh	48062	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	46938	0.008	0.067	0.094
Atlanta	47576	0.007	0.063	0.082
N.Y. Giants	47690	0.008	0.066	0.091
Las Vegas	46686	0.010	0.089	0.114
Indianapolis	48880	0.008	0.061	0.082
Chicago	46279	0.007	0.059	0.092
Denver	49022	0.010	0.082	0.104
LA Rams	48086	0.008	0.070	0.089
Green Bay	49775	0.008	0.060	0.079
Philadelphia	50191	0.008	0.071	0.091
Houston	48850	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	50677	0.009	0.075	0.096
Seattle	49228	0.009	0.076	0.101
Detroit	47795	0.010	0.086	0.107
New England	51041	0.008	0.065	0.090
Tampa Bay	48004	0.008	0.072	0.087
New Orleans	49210	0.010	0.085	0.114
Buffalo	48323	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	47162	0.010	0.086	0.113
Jacksonville	47030	0.009	0.071	0.100