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 (4293), Defensive Holding (3100), Roughing the Passer (1713), Illegal Contact (1040), Illegal Use of Hands (893), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (342), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (234), Taunting (134), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (39), 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	45960	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	47156	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	46348	0.009	0.072	0.101
Dallas	47490	0.009	0.075	0.092
Carolina	46400	0.008	0.064	0.086
Cincinnati	47726	0.008	0.068	0.086
Arizona	47038	0.009	0.076	0.094
Tennessee	46280	0.009	0.075	0.101
San Francisco	48519	0.009	0.074	0.094
LA Chargers	46464	0.008	0.069	0.088
Baltimore	49576	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	47608	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	46471	0.008	0.067	0.095
Atlanta	46947	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	47215	0.008	0.066	0.091
Las Vegas	45975	0.010	0.088	0.113
Indianapolis	48260	0.008	0.060	0.081
Chicago	45663	0.007	0.060	0.092
Denver	48540	0.010	0.082	0.104
LA Rams	47475	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	49193	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	49571	0.008	0.071	0.091
Houston	48239	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	50047	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	48654	0.009	0.076	0.101
Detroit	47139	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	50591	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	47411	0.008	0.073	0.088
New Orleans	48603	0.010	0.085	0.115
Buffalo	47740	0.009	0.076	0.092
N.Y. Jets	46548	0.010	0.085	0.112
Jacksonville	46409	0.008	0.071	0.099