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 (4238), Defensive Holding (3063), Roughing the Passer (1697), Illegal Contact (1027), Illegal Use of Hands (887), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (340), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (224), Taunting (130), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (37), 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	45396	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	46543	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	45909	0.009	0.072	0.102
Dallas	47178	0.009	0.075	0.092
Carolina	45812	0.008	0.064	0.087
Cincinnati	47234	0.008	0.067	0.086
Arizona	46565	0.009	0.076	0.095
Tennessee	45838	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	47911	0.009	0.074	0.095
LA Chargers	45896	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	48979	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	46987	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	45912	0.008	0.067	0.094
Atlanta	46327	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	46622	0.008	0.065	0.090
Las Vegas	45668	0.010	0.089	0.113
Indianapolis	47784	0.008	0.060	0.081
Chicago	45015	0.007	0.059	0.093
Denver	47919	0.009	0.082	0.103
LA Rams	47024	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	48610	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	49131	0.008	0.072	0.092
Houston	47616	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	49610	0.009	0.075	0.095
Seattle	48202	0.009	0.076	0.102
Detroit	46682	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	49998	0.008	0.066	0.091
Tampa Bay	46951	0.008	0.073	0.088
New Orleans	48177	0.010	0.085	0.115
Buffalo	47145	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	46093	0.010	0.085	0.112
Jacksonville	45954	0.008	0.070	0.098