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 (4324), Defensive Holding (3111), Roughing the Passer (1723), Illegal Contact (1052), Illegal Use of Hands (895), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Face Mask (239), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (135), 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	46116	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	47426	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	46652	0.009	0.072	0.101
Dallas	47950	0.009	0.074	0.092
Carolina	46674	0.008	0.064	0.086
Cincinnati	48050	0.008	0.068	0.087
Arizona	47348	0.009	0.075	0.093
Tennessee	46561	0.009	0.075	0.101
San Francisco	48801	0.009	0.073	0.094
LA Chargers	46600	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	49882	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	47904	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	46656	0.008	0.067	0.094
Atlanta	47271	0.007	0.062	0.082
N.Y. Giants	47391	0.008	0.066	0.091
Las Vegas	46418	0.010	0.088	0.114
Indianapolis	48577	0.008	0.062	0.082
Chicago	45985	0.008	0.060	0.093
Denver	48725	0.010	0.082	0.104
LA Rams	47760	0.008	0.070	0.089
Green Bay	49472	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	49891	0.008	0.071	0.091
Houston	48537	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	50373	0.009	0.074	0.096
Seattle	48932	0.009	0.076	0.101
Detroit	47460	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	50749	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	47699	0.008	0.072	0.088
New Orleans	48919	0.010	0.085	0.114
Buffalo	48031	0.009	0.076	0.092
N.Y. Jets	46852	0.010	0.086	0.113
Jacksonville	46716	0.008	0.071	0.099