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 (4140), Defensive Holding (3007), Roughing the Passer (1670), Illegal Contact (986), Illegal Use of Hands (870), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (337), Horse Collar Tackle (253), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (200), Taunting (129), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (34), 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	44676	0.009	0.073	0.096
Minnesota	45946	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	45161	0.009	0.072	0.102
Dallas	46377	0.009	0.075	0.091
Carolina	45073	0.008	0.064	0.087
Cincinnati	46486	0.008	0.068	0.087
Arizona	45791	0.009	0.076	0.094
Tennessee	45112	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	47134	0.009	0.073	0.095
LA Chargers	44987	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	48399	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	46381	0.008	0.067	0.091
Washington	45162	0.008	0.068	0.094
Atlanta	45742	0.007	0.061	0.081
N.Y. Giants	45835	0.008	0.064	0.088
Las Vegas	44814	0.010	0.089	0.114
Indianapolis	47021	0.007	0.060	0.080
Chicago	44430	0.007	0.058	0.092
Denver	47130	0.009	0.079	0.100
LA Rams	46229	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	47990	0.007	0.059	0.079
Philadelphia	48363	0.008	0.071	0.091
Houston	46877	0.009	0.077	0.108
Kansas City	48898	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	47422	0.009	0.075	0.101
Detroit	45933	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	49296	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	46040	0.008	0.072	0.088
New Orleans	47433	0.010	0.086	0.115
Buffalo	46564	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	45330	0.010	0.085	0.113
Jacksonville	45186	0.008	0.070	0.098