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 (3917), Defensive Holding (2876), Roughing the Passer (1599), Illegal Contact (935), Illegal Use of Hands (830), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (321), Horse Collar Tackle (242), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (149), Taunting (124), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (33), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (4), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	42723	0.009	0.072	0.098
Minnesota	43968	0.008	0.070	0.091
Cleveland	43280	0.009	0.072	0.102
Dallas	44327	0.009	0.075	0.092
Carolina	43178	0.008	0.064	0.087
Cincinnati	44596	0.008	0.066	0.086
Arizona	43964	0.009	0.076	0.095
Tennessee	43155	0.009	0.074	0.100
San Francisco	45346	0.009	0.073	0.095
LA Chargers	42994	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	46271	0.009	0.081	0.105
Pittsburgh	44375	0.008	0.066	0.092
Washington	42765	0.008	0.065	0.089
Atlanta	43906	0.007	0.062	0.082
N.Y. Giants	43963	0.007	0.063	0.084
Las Vegas	43090	0.010	0.090	0.114
Indianapolis	45161	0.007	0.060	0.081
Chicago	42471	0.007	0.058	0.091
Denver	45115	0.009	0.078	0.099
LA Rams	44107	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	46085	0.007	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	45762	0.008	0.071	0.090
Houston	44905	0.009	0.076	0.109
Kansas City	46475	0.009	0.074	0.096
Seattle	45646	0.009	0.074	0.100
Detroit	43771	0.010	0.085	0.108
New England	47481	0.008	0.065	0.089
Tampa Bay	44202	0.008	0.072	0.087
New Orleans	45554	0.010	0.087	0.116
Buffalo	44304	0.009	0.076	0.095
N.Y. Jets	43541	0.010	0.084	0.112
Jacksonville	43329	0.008	0.069	0.097