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 (4374), Defensive Holding (3150), Roughing the Passer (1739), Illegal Contact (1068), Illegal Use of Hands (907), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (256), Face Mask (255), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (139), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (44), 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	46697	0.009	0.075	0.097
Minnesota	47974	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	47241	0.008	0.072	0.100
Dallas	48572	0.009	0.074	0.092
Carolina	47101	0.008	0.065	0.086
Cincinnati	48628	0.008	0.068	0.086
Arizona	47974	0.009	0.075	0.093
Tennessee	47178	0.009	0.076	0.101
San Francisco	49270	0.009	0.073	0.094
LA Chargers	47212	0.008	0.069	0.088
Baltimore	50463	0.010	0.081	0.107
Pittsburgh	48504	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	47241	0.008	0.068	0.095
Atlanta	47731	0.007	0.063	0.082
N.Y. Giants	47956	0.008	0.066	0.090
Las Vegas	46971	0.010	0.089	0.115
Indianapolis	49186	0.008	0.061	0.081
Chicago	46596	0.007	0.059	0.092
Denver	49322	0.010	0.082	0.105
LA Rams	48275	0.008	0.070	0.089
Green Bay	50072	0.008	0.060	0.079
Philadelphia	50488	0.008	0.071	0.092
Houston	49146	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	50955	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	49557	0.009	0.076	0.101
Detroit	48105	0.010	0.086	0.107
New England	51340	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	48291	0.008	0.072	0.087
New Orleans	49537	0.010	0.084	0.115
Buffalo	48614	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	47480	0.010	0.086	0.113
Jacksonville	47345	0.009	0.072	0.100