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 (4390), Defensive Holding (3157), Roughing the Passer (1743), Illegal Contact (1069), Illegal Use of Hands (910), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (351), Face Mask (258), Horse Collar Tackle (256), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (140), 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	46835	0.009	0.075	0.098
Minnesota	48112	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	47385	0.008	0.072	0.101
Dallas	48723	0.009	0.074	0.092
Carolina	47239	0.008	0.065	0.087
Cincinnati	48772	0.008	0.068	0.086
Arizona	48127	0.009	0.075	0.093
Tennessee	47316	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	49397	0.009	0.073	0.094
LA Chargers	47367	0.008	0.069	0.087
Baltimore	50614	0.010	0.081	0.107
Pittsburgh	48655	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	47390	0.008	0.068	0.094
Atlanta	48029	0.007	0.063	0.083
N.Y. Giants	48107	0.008	0.066	0.090
Las Vegas	47126	0.010	0.089	0.114
Indianapolis	49350	0.008	0.061	0.082
Chicago	46743	0.007	0.059	0.092
Denver	49477	0.010	0.082	0.104
LA Rams	48571	0.008	0.070	0.088
Green Bay	50210	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	50637	0.009	0.072	0.093
Houston	49310	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	51110	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	49684	0.009	0.076	0.101
Detroit	48252	0.010	0.086	0.107
New England	51478	0.008	0.066	0.091
Tampa Bay	48429	0.008	0.072	0.087
New Orleans	49692	0.010	0.084	0.114
Buffalo	48753	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	47619	0.010	0.086	0.113
Jacksonville	47483	0.009	0.072	0.099