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 (4338), Defensive Holding (3119), Roughing the Passer (1728), Illegal Contact (1055), Illegal Use of Hands (898), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Face Mask (245), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (136), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (40), 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	46267	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	47553	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	46819	0.008	0.072	0.101
Dallas	48119	0.009	0.074	0.092
Carolina	46674	0.008	0.064	0.086
Cincinnati	48194	0.008	0.068	0.087
Arizona	47508	0.009	0.075	0.093
Tennessee	46728	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	48801	0.009	0.073	0.094
LA Chargers	46773	0.008	0.069	0.088
Baltimore	50040	0.010	0.082	0.107
Pittsburgh	48062	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	46783	0.008	0.067	0.094
Atlanta	47419	0.007	0.062	0.082
N.Y. Giants	47535	0.008	0.066	0.090
Las Vegas	46559	0.010	0.089	0.114
Indianapolis	48732	0.008	0.061	0.082
Chicago	46132	0.007	0.059	0.092
Denver	48866	0.010	0.082	0.104
LA Rams	47920	0.008	0.070	0.089
Green Bay	49619	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	50064	0.008	0.071	0.091
Houston	48694	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	50530	0.009	0.074	0.096
Seattle	49080	0.009	0.076	0.101
Detroit	47629	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	50893	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	47847	0.008	0.072	0.087
New Orleans	49067	0.010	0.085	0.115
Buffalo	48175	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	47003	0.010	0.085	0.113
Jacksonville	46871	0.009	0.071	0.100